In a way, a discouraging-sounding headline in the Hindu says it all; referring to the news that Nawaz Sharif, a former Pakistani prime minister who heads the Pakistan Muslim League (N) had pulled his party out of Pakistan's current, governing coalition, the Hindu notes: "The inevitable happens."
Mian Khursheed/Reuters
In Islamabad yesterday, Nawaz Sharif (right), Pakistan's former prime minister, arrived for a news conference with his party's nominated candidate for president, former Chief Justice Saeeduzzaman Siddiqui; Sharif announced that his party was pulling out of Pakistan's current governing coalition
Only a few days after Pakistan's controversial, U.S.-backed dictator-president Pervez Musharraf resigned, Sharif withdrew from the coalition that is headed by the Pakistan People's Party because, he told the press, numerous judges whom Musharraf had fired last year were supposed to have been sent back to work "'within a day' of the successful impeachment of...Musharraf or his resignation." That was the agreement Sharif and his MNL(N) had made with the PPP, whose co-chairman is Asif Ali Zaradri, the widower of the former PPP leader Benazir Bhutto; last December, Bhutto was assassinated after appearing at a campaign rally in the lead-up to parliamentary elections that were supposed to take place in January but were postponed following her death.
Pakistan People's Party/Handout/Reuters
Pakistan People's Party co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari (right) at a meeting of the leadership of his organization in Islamabad last week; the widower of the late Benazir Bhutto, Zardari is running as the PPP's candidate in the September 6 election
"The only surprise is that it took as little as a week after...Musharraf quit as president for their alliance in Pakistan's ruling coalition to unravel," the Hindu reports. At a press conference in Islamabad yesterday, it reports, Sharif said: "[T]he judges were not restored on August 19. Instead, the presidential elections were announced [for September 6], and the PPP announced the candidature of Asif Ali Zardari in the election...." Sharif suggested that the PPP's Zardari could not be trusted to upheld the agreements into which he has entered. The Hindu notes: "Sharif said his party had tried its best to keep the coalition intact, despite...Zardari repeatedly reneging on his promise to restore the judges, in the interests of democracy and giving the country a stable government. [Sharif] has held out the assurance that his party will play the role of a 'constructive opposition' that will not try to place hurdles in the path of the PPP government." The Pakistan Muslim League (N) has announced that it has chosen a retired judge, Saeedduzzman Siddiqui, as its candidate in the forthcoming presidential contest. (See also the Age, Australia)
By pulling out of Pakistan's current governing coalition, in effect, the Gulf News notes, Sharif is "setting up" the scene that will become the backdrop for the forthcoming race for the presidency. The English-language, United Arab Emirates-based newspaper reports that both the Pakistan People's Party and Sharif's PML(N) "will now flex their muscles" in Pakistan's national parliament. "There will be efforts to form new alliances and the pro-Musharraf Pakistan Muslim League (Quaid) [party] is expected to play a major role once again. There will be a tussle between [the] PPP and [the] PML(N) to gain power in Punjab, which is currently ruled by PML(N), leading to more friction."
Athar Hussain/Reuters
In Karachi earlier this week, PPP supporters celebrated Zardari's decision to run for president
An editorial titled "In memoriam" in the Pakistani newspaper the Nation observes: "The seven-month-long alliance between the PPP and the PML(N) has finally come to an end. This would pain many who believed that an understanding between the two mainstream parties alone could strengthen democracy and steer the country out of the serious economic, political and security crisis it has inherited from the previous administration. While working together both sides have indulged in actions that contributed to the parting of ways....Both are within their right to criticize each other's policies inside and outside Parliament, but they must do nothing that upsets the applecart....[U]nless the PPP and the PML(N) display [the] tolerance for one another that they failed to do in the past, maintain good working relations and their leaders learn to act like political rivals rather than personal enemies, those waiting in the wings might not take long to give the politicians a surprise."
An editorial in the Pakistan Observer notes that, right now, PPP leader Zardari's "star is at its zenith" and assumes that he will win the forthcoming election. The paper states: "We are confident that...Zardari, in his capacity as president[,]...will play [a] crucial role in resolving the problems haunting the country....[T]he PPP will become a formidable force, and that is why people are expecting rapid action for addressing...challenges like price hike[s], unemployment, lawlessness and economic slowdown. The party, enjoying all powers, will have no excuse [not to take action on these problems], and that is why it has become imperative for its leadership to start doing loud thinking [about] how to proceed...."
Apparently, in their national government and in the way they are governed, many Pakistanis are craving big changes at the top. Referring to the departure of Musharraf and to his backing by the U.S., Pakistan's Statesman editorializes: "Except for a handful of sheepish Musharraf loyalists, the entire Pakistani nation has heaved a sigh of relief at the final disappearance from national scene of a Nero-like, power-hungry and vision-less ruler whose only qualification was to make...national institutions subservient to the dictates of...distant imperialist forces...." Instead of "brainstorming on the solution of public problems," the Statesman notes, the Musharaff regime's "focus appeared to be on the distribution of booty. The common man can understand the compulsions of [such] rulers, but in the face of the hardships of life, he is probably running out of patience."
Faisal Mahmood/Reuters
Passersby in Islamabad read the day's headlines in papers on display at a newsstand; what Pakistanis want now is for leading political parties to stop squabbling, and for their government to seriously focus on many urgent problems
The Financial Times suggests that Zaardari isn't exactly a shoo-in for the Pakistani presidency and that he might have some explaining to do about his past. The British business-news daily reports: "Twenty years after...Zardari shot to political fame when his late wife, Benazir Bhutto, became the first female Muslim prime minister of an Islamic country,...[he]...is again battling his past. The 54-year-old former businessman has spent more than half his 20-year political career in prison in Pakistan fighting corruption charges, and most of his recent past in exile fighting off similar allegations in international courts. In the wake of his wife's assassination...and the decision by former general Pervez Musharraf to step down as president last week, there has never been a more pressing moment to present his side of the story." The FT notes that Zardari's "well-documented fight against various corruption charges" left behind significant "scars."
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Showing posts with label politics. Show all posts
Showing posts with label politics. Show all posts
Monday, 1 September 2008
Profile of Pervez Musharraf
President Pervez Musharraf is facing his gravest test as ruler of Pakistan since seizing power in a bloodless coup in 1999.
The general - who now finds himself centre stage in an international crisis - was born in Delhi in August 1943.
His family emigrated to Pakistan during the partition of the Indian sub-continent.
His rise through the ranks came despite the fact that he does not belong to the predominantly Punjabi officer class of the Pakistani army - but to an Urdu-speaking family in Karachi.
He began his military career in 1964.
Early on, he reportedly commanded artillery and infantry brigades before going on to lead various commando units.
He reportedly underwent two spells of military training in the UK and was appointed director-general of military operations by the now-exiled former prime minister, Benazir Bhutto, before taking full charge of the armed forces.
Top job
General Musharraf rose to the top job in 1998 when Pakistan's powerful army chief, General Jehangir Karamat, resigned two days after calling for the army to be given a key role in the country's decision-making process.
Prime Minister Sharif: Increasing tension with general
It was the first time an army chief of staff has ever stepped down and many observers took it as a sign that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's political power had become strong enough to secure the long-term future of civilian administrations.
Some independent commentators suggested that General Musharraf's promotion came precisely because he did not belong to the Punjabi officer class.
They say the Prime Minister believed that Musharraf's ethnic background would leave the general unable to build a powerbase.
Kashmir crisis
During the Kashmir crisis in 1998, General Musharraf was regularly seen briefing the media and making appearances on state television.
But while he said that Pakistan-backed militants were preventing Indian gains, he and other senior generals were reportedly increasingly angry at the prime minister's attempts to find a diplomatic way out of the crisis.
Mr Sharif's moves led to speculation that the military did not have the full political backing of the government and he eventually ordered a full withdrawal.
General Musharraf was the first senior figure to acknowledge that Pakistani troops had entered the Indian-administered sector during the fighting.
Previously, Pakistan had said that the forces had all been Islamic militants determined to take territory from the other side of the Line of Control.
Click here to watch an interview with General Musharraf from the time
Following the order to withdraw, Gen Musharraf told the BBC that the crisis had been a "great success" for Pakistan.
In contrast, India's ruling BJP party sought to make electoral capital out of what it saw as a great military victory.
While being credited as one of the principal strategists behind the Kashmir crisis, General Musharraf also made clear he did not oppose efforts to ease tension with India.
Ties worsened after a hijack in December 1999
But any hopes that his takeover in a coup might herald a stabilisation in ties with India - or even a new start - appeared displaced in the first 20 months of his rule.
Tension on the sub-continent initially increased markedly - with both sides adopting hostile positions.
The hijack of an Indian Airlines plane to Afghanistan in 1999 - which India blamed on Pakistani-backed groups - and a rising tide of violence in Kashmir plunged relations to a new low.
In July 2001, General Musharraf held his first summit meeting with Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee at Agra - but failed to make much headway in the Kashmir dispute.
Before going to India, he had named himself president in a bid to consolidate his grip on power.
General Musharraf has also firmly resisted outside pressure to move quickly to restore civilian rule.
After the coup he suspended the national assembly. He has said there can be no question of elections until October 2002 - the deadline set by Pakistan's Supreme Court.
The general - who now finds himself centre stage in an international crisis - was born in Delhi in August 1943.
His family emigrated to Pakistan during the partition of the Indian sub-continent.
His rise through the ranks came despite the fact that he does not belong to the predominantly Punjabi officer class of the Pakistani army - but to an Urdu-speaking family in Karachi.
He began his military career in 1964.
Early on, he reportedly commanded artillery and infantry brigades before going on to lead various commando units.
He reportedly underwent two spells of military training in the UK and was appointed director-general of military operations by the now-exiled former prime minister, Benazir Bhutto, before taking full charge of the armed forces.
Top job
General Musharraf rose to the top job in 1998 when Pakistan's powerful army chief, General Jehangir Karamat, resigned two days after calling for the army to be given a key role in the country's decision-making process.
Prime Minister Sharif: Increasing tension with general
It was the first time an army chief of staff has ever stepped down and many observers took it as a sign that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's political power had become strong enough to secure the long-term future of civilian administrations.
Some independent commentators suggested that General Musharraf's promotion came precisely because he did not belong to the Punjabi officer class.
They say the Prime Minister believed that Musharraf's ethnic background would leave the general unable to build a powerbase.
Kashmir crisis
During the Kashmir crisis in 1998, General Musharraf was regularly seen briefing the media and making appearances on state television.
But while he said that Pakistan-backed militants were preventing Indian gains, he and other senior generals were reportedly increasingly angry at the prime minister's attempts to find a diplomatic way out of the crisis.
Mr Sharif's moves led to speculation that the military did not have the full political backing of the government and he eventually ordered a full withdrawal.
General Musharraf was the first senior figure to acknowledge that Pakistani troops had entered the Indian-administered sector during the fighting.
Previously, Pakistan had said that the forces had all been Islamic militants determined to take territory from the other side of the Line of Control.
Click here to watch an interview with General Musharraf from the time
Following the order to withdraw, Gen Musharraf told the BBC that the crisis had been a "great success" for Pakistan.
In contrast, India's ruling BJP party sought to make electoral capital out of what it saw as a great military victory.
While being credited as one of the principal strategists behind the Kashmir crisis, General Musharraf also made clear he did not oppose efforts to ease tension with India.
Ties worsened after a hijack in December 1999
But any hopes that his takeover in a coup might herald a stabilisation in ties with India - or even a new start - appeared displaced in the first 20 months of his rule.
Tension on the sub-continent initially increased markedly - with both sides adopting hostile positions.
The hijack of an Indian Airlines plane to Afghanistan in 1999 - which India blamed on Pakistani-backed groups - and a rising tide of violence in Kashmir plunged relations to a new low.
In July 2001, General Musharraf held his first summit meeting with Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee at Agra - but failed to make much headway in the Kashmir dispute.
Before going to India, he had named himself president in a bid to consolidate his grip on power.
General Musharraf has also firmly resisted outside pressure to move quickly to restore civilian rule.
After the coup he suspended the national assembly. He has said there can be no question of elections until October 2002 - the deadline set by Pakistan's Supreme Court.
Pro-Musharraf = Musharraf.org
On 18th August 2008 at 1:00 PM Pakistan Local Time , President of Pakistan Pervez Musharraf announced his resignation.
In his address the President said that no charge-sheet can stand against him as he is sure that not a single charge leveled against him can be proved.He said that when he he had taken over the economy was at the verge of collapse.
After viewing the situation and consulting legal advisers and political allies, with their advice I have decided to resign…..
….I leave my future in the hands of people.
He Resigned for the sake of Pakistan and as always he put Pakistan First. We all Support him for what he did for Pakistan since 1999 and his 9 Golden Years will always be Remembered.
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In his address the President said that no charge-sheet can stand against him as he is sure that not a single charge leveled against him can be proved.He said that when he he had taken over the economy was at the verge of collapse.
After viewing the situation and consulting legal advisers and political allies, with their advice I have decided to resign…..
….I leave my future in the hands of people.
He Resigned for the sake of Pakistan and as always he put Pakistan First. We all Support him for what he did for Pakistan since 1999 and his 9 Golden Years will always be Remembered.
Read more
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