Ultimatum Delivered

Newsweek Web Exclusive

Email To A Friend

Please fill in the following information and we'll email this link.

SPONSORED BY

Many Pakistanis see these repressive moves as proof that Musharraf is determined to get a friendly parliament elected next month at any cost. "Musharraf has made up his mind that he wants a favorable parliament no matter what," says political scientist and columnist Rizvi. "He knows he can't afford a hostile parliament." But if Pakistanis perceive that the polls have been rigged, they could conceivably take to the streets in protest. "If there is rigging, the logical consequence would be mass agitation, a popular upsurge against Pervez Musharraf," says PPP candidate Hussain.

Indeed, it seems increasingly unlikely that the election will lead to the political stability it is meant to achieve. "Whether the opposition takes part in the election or not, no one will accept the results," predicts Amir. "Benazir and Nawaz will say that they took part in the elections merely to expose the regime's machinations. Then the protest will begin." Rizvi agrees: "The election is not going to solve any of Pakistan's domestic problems, because Musharraf and his effort to hang on to power at any cost is the core issue."

In the wake of a disputed election, there may be even less room for political compromise than there is now. "As long as Musharraf stays, you will not have a coherent and stable political process in Pakistan," adds Rizvi. And there is no doubt that Musharraf is determined to stay exactly where he is.

« Prev Page

Member Comments

- Reply
- Report Abuse
Posted By: danishd @ 12/16/2007 3:01:58 PM

To Expect the stability after elections under Musharraf's regime is like to involve yourself in day dreaming with all your consciousness. You cannot expect a fairness from the person whose own persona as a president is badly disputed and controversial. He could easily have been declared disqualified for the presidential post by SC, Had he not ordered the crackdown on the entire Judiciary on November 3rd. Hung Pariliament seems to be the better idea for musharraf to continue enjoying undisputed powers without any potential threat to him. I don't see pakistan coming out of this nightmare unless our president will step down from his post.
- Reply
- Report Abuse
Posted By: Michelle4681 @ 12/13/2007 9:08:13 PM

I'm am American who supports Benazir and a democratic Pakistan.
Please visit this website and sign a petition to ask the US Congress to pass a Resolution in support of democracy and freedom in Pakistan: www.SupportBenazir.org
- Reply
- Report Abuse
Posted By: UmairQureshi @ 12/07/2007 7:01:16 PM

Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif stand for everything that is wrong with Pakistan today. Today they clamor for an independant judiciary and a free media, but one must go back a decade to remember that Sharif actually manhandled the Supreme Court by personally sending his political workers and commandos inside the Court to appeal against a decision which went against him. As folklore goes, after they had manhandled the senior Judges the brother of Mr. Sharif served these political 'terrorists' tea at the PML headquarters! Talk of double standards!
Similarly in Mr. Sharif's time press freedom was unheard of. Not only was there just one state-owned channel in the country but even newspapers, given a free reign by the present regime, were gagged. Infact Najam Sethi, Pakistan's most prominent journalist was arrested and kept in custody for 4 months because he wrote against the government.
Under Mr. Sharif Pakistan's foreign exchange reserves had dwindled to such a low that the World Bank had precipitated a financial meltdown and the name "failed state" couldn't have been more accurate. To add to the woes, Mr. Sharif looted billions of rupees from the exchequer and built a financial empire that is reminiscent of the one built by the former Thai PM, Thaksin Sinawatra. Thaksin was driven out of power by Thais because of his accumulation, Sharif deserved similiar.

It is therefore mystifying when this man has the audacity to stand up for everything that he himself could be accused against. Even worse is having respected journalists like Mr.Amir supporting him, when his own article archives show the sort of venom he had against Mr.Sharif's then-regime. Clearly, this is the worst form of croneyism ever.