Musharraf and Pakistan’s Destiny

by Dr.Abdul Ruff Colachal

(August 16, New Delhi, Sri Lanka Guardian) Even as the country is reeling under several serious problems, Pakistan’s politics now seems to be stage managed by PMLN supreme Nawaz Sharif who has declared he wants nothing less than the Musharraf’s head in any form. "Forgive and forget" doesn't seem to be on the agenda for Musharraf's political nemesis, Nawaz Sharif, who has rejected suggestions that the president should be given safe passage out of the country, or legal immunity. "Should safe passage be given to someone who has done this to Pakistan?" Sharif asked a crowd in the eastern city of Lahore. He denies safe passage to Musharraf for “breaking Pakistan's law” and “selling out Pakistan's sovereignty." However, it’s nothing personal, insists Sharif, who was thrown out of office in 1999 when Pervez Musharraf carried out his military coup. No, of course it isn't.

Rumors and Reality

As monsoon rains fell on Islamabad's Independence Day celebrations, the Pakistani capital was awash with all sorts of rumors surrounding president Musharraf’s fate. Common people, however, are keeping their fingers closed as to know if more intense turmoil is in sort for them now.

Musharraf himself made his only public appearance in recent days at an Independence Day gala at the Presidential Palace here in Islamabad. He saluted the crowd in commander-in-chief fashion, before sitting with his family to watch a cultural show. He tapped his hand on his knee in time with the music. Outside a small crowd of protestors chanted: "Go Musharraf, Go". But he couldn't hear them. And anyway, he is sure he's done nothing wrong for Pakistan’s people.

After running this country for nearly a decade as military ruler, and then as president in and out of uniform, Pervez Musharraf is weaker than ever. His political opponents have put their deep differences aside for long enough to gang up on him and finalize a charge sheet for impeachment. Impeachment move is to force Musharraf to search for an honorable exit. That seems to leave resignation, in one form or the other, as the only viable option.

Testing Strengths

Meanwhile, efforts are also afoot to offer Musharraf an easy and safe exit. Nawaz Sharif's tough line could complicate efforts to find a deal which would satisfy all parties. The most radical option would be to dissolve parliament and dismiss the government before he resigns.

President Musharraf has always maintained he won't be impeached. But his supporters are deserting him in droves. Negotiations on a "graceful exit" have been held behind the scenes. If they're successful he could resign at any time. Or he could answer the charges brought against him in parliament first, in an effort to clear his name.

Even for a shroud political gambler like Pervez Musharraf, though, that would be a hard course of action to justify. His earnest calls for unity and reconciliation is still on the table even if that would sound rather hollow for those who want capture power form him.

As the Independence Day celebrations drew to close, fireworks and firecrackers competed for attention outside the Presidential Palace with thunder and lightning.

It was a dramatic setting which Musharraf enjoyed.

A Word

The economy is also in desperate shape. Food and fuel prices are soaring, and the value of the rupee falling sharply. On one point, President Musharraf is indisputably right. Stability is the need of the hour. But there will be more fireworks ahead.

Economic problems and security threat staring at Islamabad gravely. Regional imbalances have complicated the domestic stability of Pakistan. And bombs are exploded every where almost every day. A “trusted” ally the USA is hell-bent upon destabilizing Pakistan after it succeed dong that in Iraq and Afghanistan. India is offering a helping hand to Washington to clinch its fashionable nuclear deal with USA.

But with or without President Musharraf, Pakistan faces huge challenges. But by removing Musharraf the situation cannot be improved, rather it could be devastating for Pakistan and its people. And it's worth remembering that the allies in the coalition government agree on very little apart from their determination to get rid of the president. If (or when) he goes, they could well fight like cat and dog. There's certainly no guarantee that Pakistan will become more stable without Pervez Musharraf. And that is a big concern.

(The Writer is a research scholar, School of International Studies, Delhi )
- Sri Lanka Guardian