Musharraf exits the Pakistani stage as storm clouds gather

Musharraf exits the Pakistani stage as storm clouds gather

By

Rich Bowdenon August 20, 2008 7:40 AM

Pakistan’s former leader Pervez Musharraf resigned yesterday in an emotional address to the nation ahead of impeachment proceedings brought by the country’s newly-resurgent Parliament. Musharraf dominated Pakistani politics for almost a decade and strode the world stage as one of the U.S.’s chief regional allies in the war against terrorism. However the euphoria expressed at the ousting of the one time strongman was tempered with the knowledge that Islamabad is likely to face a protracted power struggle to fill the vacuum.

Musharraf’s ascendancy was the catalyst that brought together the two main parties; the Pakistan Peoples Party and Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz), though the two have traditionally been rivals throughout the country’s history. With the chief reason for the parties’ awkward and fragile coalition now gone, the country could face an uncertain, if not violent, political future.

The record of the two parties coalition since obtaining office in February is mixed and there have been squabbles over key issues such as immunity for Musharraf and the vexing question of whether to reinstate the judges ousted by Musharraf, an act which proved to be the tipping point for Musharraf in the eyes of the Pakistani public.

What Everybody Has Done With Pakistan

What Everybody Has Done With Pakistan

Quaid-E-Azam :

Islamic Republic Of Pakistan

Ayob Khan:

Army Republic Of Pakistan

Bhutto :

Peoples Party Of Pakistan

Yahya Khan:

What So Ever Divided By 2 Pakistan

Zia-Ul-Haq:

Jihad Republic Of Pakistan

Ghulam Ishaq Khan:

ISI Republic Of Pakistan

Moeen Qureshi :

Taxation Republic Of Pakistan

Benazir Bhutto :

Zardari Republic Of Pakistan

Nawaz Sharif:

Abba Jee & Sons Republic Of Pakistan

Gen. Pervez Musharraf :

Pakistan (Pvt). Ltd.

People of Pakistan :

Immigration From Pakistan

Welcome To PPP Democracy – Jiyala Jamhuriyat!

Welcome To PPP Democracy – Jiyala Jamhuriyat!

By COL. RIAZ JAFRI (RETD.)

Monday, 23 June 2008.

RAWALPINDI, Pakistan—Liaqat Bagh to be renamed Benazir Bhutto Bagh, Murree Road to be renamed Benazir Bhutto Road, 27 December to be declared official holiday after Benazir Bhutto’s death anniversary, Lahore to be turned into Larkana, Presidency to be taken over by a PPP worker, the Prime Minister commutes all death sentences to life imprisonment as Benazir Bhutto’s birthday gift to the nation (read ‘gift to murderers’). All this, of course, without any authority.

The Co-Chairperson – not even an Member of National Assembly – being given full protocol and allowed the use of bullet proof SUV with tainted glasses (who says it violates the law?); the construction of Tarbela Dam abandoned at the whims of someone, anyone, without even being discussed in the Parliament, PM announcing publicly without any hesitation to restore the judges immediately on receipt of orders from Zardari (what a Prime Minister!), PM performing Umra with 80 plus guests and hangers-on, of course at your and my expense; and then BB death probe by U.N. – at what colossal costs and with what outcome – anybody’s guess, et al.

What is all this? Is it the democracy or the government of a person, for a person, by a person? Where is the Parliament, which unlike the previous ones is claimed not to be a rubber stamp? Are these acts democratic in nature and spirit? Or, is the present democracy yet another facet of the maadar pidar azaad Jiala jamhuriat? Jo jee mein aye karo, yahaan kaun poochhaney wala hai ?!!

Col. Riaz Jafri (Retd) is based in Rawalpindi. His commentary is appears frequently in several national Pakistani dailies. He can be reached at jafri@rifiela.com