The Aftermath
Musharraf's resignation puts pressure on a weak coalition
Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf resigned from office Monday. It was hardly a surprise, as the 65-year-old president's political allies and even the Army's top brass, which he had commanded for years, had largely deserted him in the face of certain impeachment by the heavily anti-Musharraf national Parliament. He tendered his resignation in an emotional and at times defiant nationally televised speech that lasted for more than an hour. His ouster puts squarely in the spotlight the five-month-old coalition government--and its weak performance so far. No longer will coalition leaders be able to blame so-called "conspiracies" being hatched in the presidency for the country's economic, political and security failings. Bereft of excuses, it will now have to deliver.
Musharraf, ever the combative 44-year military veteran, did not bow out meekly. He started out by giving a spirited defense of his nearly nine years of largely authoritarian rule. As he ticked off a long litany of his regime's economic, social and political achievements, it seemed that perhaps he was having second thoughts about resigning. But then he conceded the inevitable. "This is no time for individual bravado but for seriousness of thought," he said, dressed in a dark suit and flanked by two Pakistani flags. "Having reviewed the situation and having consulted my legal advisers and political supporters, and on their advice, for the interest of the nation, I have decided to resign." He added that he did not want to drag the military into the fight, and that he wanted to protect the presidency and end months of political uncertainty. "I don't want anything from anyone," he said. "My future is in the hands of the people. Let them be the judges and let them do justice."
Unfortunately for Musharraf, Pakistanis spoke loudest last February when, in the general election, the president's allies were routed--in a vote largely seen as a referendum on his years in power. The political parties of his two staunch adversaries, Asif Ali Zardari, Benazir Bhutto's widower, and Nawaz Sharif, the man whom he overthrew in a bloodless coup in 1999, swept the polls and formed an uneasy, indeed fragile, coalition government. But Zardari and Sharif did unite on one issue: the need to remove Musharraf from office. On that common goal they have finally succeeded.
Having lost the presidency, Musharraf is unlikely to stay in Pakistan for very long, as NEWSWEEK reported Sunday--just in case his opponents, sensing his vulnerability, may try to instigate further legal proceedings against him. He will remain in his British-colonial-style "camp office" in the Rawalpindi army garrison for the next few days, then he is expected to leave on a pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia, a former senior aide--whose information has proved reliable in the past--told NEWSWEEK. According to the source, Musharraf will remain outside Pakistan for two to three months while tempers cool. (The United States, which stood by Musharraf as his popularity waned, has cooled on him of late. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice indicated over the weekend that there has not been serious discussion about Musharraf seeking refuge in America.)
Musharraf sounded bitter when speaking about how he had offered a hand of cooperation and reconciliation to his two adversaries but had been rejected. "I was for reconciliation from the very beginning," he said. "Sadly, some elements have politicized the economy and the War on Terror," he added. "Instead of reconciliation we got confrontation."
Musharraf offered no apologies for what his political enemies saw as his most egregious moves: his coup against Sharif, his manipulating the Constitution to remain in power, his imposition of the state of emergency and his sacking of 60 judges last November in an effort to save his presidency. He admitted that he had erred. "I might have committed mistakes," he said. "But everything I did was with honesty and integrity." He dismissed the coalition's impeachment charges against him. "Not a single charge can be proved," he said. "I'm not worried about any charges."
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Member Comments
Posted By: Sultan Ahmed @ 08/25/2008 10:26:32 AM
Comment: Coalition,
at stak,fragile also,
staggering like a dried leaf,
expected breaking from the stem.
very hard to save it,
because leaders of that has different path,
different political destination.
Reinstatement of the judges,
fired by Musharraf looks imposible ,
to the great extent,
and if the present situation remained,
unbridgeable distance may be created ,
between coalition partners,
which is not favourable to the land.
There are many issues,
there are many problems,
awaiting to solve,
such as economy of the country,
but promise is promise,
that is written,must be fullfiled.
There are experienced lawyers,
unique lawmakers and experts,
have ability to making a acceptable way,
to restore apex court,s judges.
In case,
they failed to deal abovementioned issue,
the world would say,
Pakistan is in the hands of those,
who know nothing about the politics,
except plundering the state,s wealth.
Posted By: sb0614 @ 08/22/2008 3:37:42 PM
Comment: It is interesting to note that many if not all problems of Pakistan are conveniently blamed on the US (member comments by nawawimohamad). Nevermind that the jihadi-infrastructure was laid down soon after 1947 to wrestle Kashmir out its' neighbor's hand. Nevermind that the Military-Mullah partnership fought a constant "unofficial" war all these years and promoted madarssas to supply a constant stream of fundamentalist jihadis. Nevermind that the people of Pakistan got impregnated by the Military-Mullah propaganda over the years and they actually welcomed the military in a show of Islam backed power. Clearly, for years India was the big bad wolf who could only be defeated by God and Gun. Nevermind that in this environment it was easy for the ISI to create a pure Islam-based fanatic warrior unit aka the Taliban. All this was done, as far as Pakistan was concerned, was to fight its' neighbor and, eventually, take over Kashmir. Remember the infrastructure, the environment, the propaganda, the islam biased history books and the constant Islamization of the population started soon after 1947. This and only this is responsible for the root cause of Pakistan becoming the cradle of terrorism today.
The US only took advantage of this infrastructure when it decided to fight the Soviets. Musharraf came to power in 1999 - the US put down an ultimatum soon after 9/11. Musharraf had little choice but, to support (albeit half-heartedly) the US in its' war on terror. If Musharraf had declined, the US together with India would have annihlated the terrorist infrastructure once and for all.
Posted By: Azfar @ 08/22/2008 7:34:56 AM
Comment: Pervez Musharraf was a chrismatic and the most succesful Pakistani leader of Pakistan.
Yes, I fully agreed that he made some major mistakes but when you critically observed (with neutral and open mind) his performance than you will be able to know that what happened in Pakistan in last nine years.
I remember that in 1999 our corporate sector was worried that we dont have work and orders. In last 6 to 7 years the biggest issue of any corporate is that how to engage employees for the maximum results. Today in Pakistan the biggest issue of any HR Department is to attract and retain the talent.
If you critically observe the development of cities and villages than you will be able to know that in last 7 to 8 years the massive projects were executed in shape of roads, highways, bridges, underpasses, parks and other places for cultural activities and sports.
We always think negatively and this is the biggest problem of Pakistan.
Apart from above I will recommend Pervez Musharraf that after taking some rest he will start social work in all the four provinces of Pakistan. Through the social work he will provide humanitarian services to the people of Pakistan. He is a international personality and have very good contacts in all over the world. Like Imran Khan's Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital I urge Pervez Musharraf to serve Pakistan through massive health and educational projects. And I also urge the nation that please think positively and engage our leaders in social reforms. These social reforms will bring POSITIVE CHANGE in Pakistan. Our youth is one of the talented youth of this world. We should start massive social reforms in Pakistan with tolerance, patience and trust.
If today our all political parties will sit together (with no personal agendas) with the mission to develop this beautiful Pakistan and they will engage the common man I am confident that after 40 to 50 years Pakistan will become the Asian Tiger.
And all of us know that the next century will be the Asian Century.
Muhammad Azfar Ahsan
President, Regional Centre for Research and DIALOGUE
President, Asian Leadership Society
Assistant Governor, Rotary International District 3270
President, JCI Business Network