A cross section of local Muslims representing different strata is against the idea of violence in politics as this only pushes beyond reach the ideal of democratic values in Pakistan.

They think that this might impact the lot of Indian Muslims, specially in Gujarat.

Some say whatever is happening these days in the neighbouring country is its internal matter about which Indians need not bother.

Hashim Qureshi, a high court lawyer, apprehends that the happenings in Pakistan might give a handle to local rulers to harass local Muslims because their plans are based on what is being done in Pakistan.

“Remember how the State Government took clue from Pakistan President Parvez Musharraf about the survey and reforms of Madrasas in the past?” he said. According to him, people in Pakistan do not have the psyche that accepts democracy in their lives.

Javed Rahmatullah, a senior executive in a multinational company, believes that Pakistan will get over this phase soon because “political assassinations are not a new thing in that country right from Liyaqat Ali Khan ... and for that matter the entire sub-continent is familiar with such crisis, be it assassination of Indira Gandhi or Shaikh Mujeebur Rahman in Bangladesh”.

Contrary to Qureshi’s views, he feels that democracy will once again emerge in Pakistan and that the current happenings won’t affect the local Muslims here.

“Muslims here are not going to be impacted but just that they are horrified at the turn of events in Pakistan, he said adding, “attacking a defenceless woman is not good in any society for any reason”.

City-based hotelier Mohammad Alibhai says that as of now nothing is okay in Pakistan and this is not good for India because this has made democracy unstable there. “Democracy has got to survive in Pakistan against all odds if the country has to thrive on it,” he said.

Chartered accountant G M Shaikh, who has two brothers in Karachi, is of the opinion that the happenings in the neighbouring country will help revival of democracy instead through sheer resilience.

He said the general public in Pakistan is not affected by such events where politicians alone are impacted.

“Though Pakistan is not ready for democracy as yet, it is thanks to President Musharraf that the USA did not invade Pakistan till now under the guise of restoring democracy”, he felt.

Abdur Rashid Shaikh, a retired high school principal, says that democracy or no, Muslims in Pakistan had never felt comfortable so far mainly because the economic and political power is concentrated in a handful of big families.