Pakistan in Crisis: Musharraf Facing Impeachment
August 7th 2008 23:38
Pakistan in Crisis: Musharraf Facing Impeachment
A few months ago it would have seemed impossible to imagine that the Dictator of Pakistan would be fighting for his own survival. Yet that is what appears to be happening at this moment as two parties have formed a loose coalition against his once mighty and unstoppable ruling party. After settling their differences to take control of the parliament are now starting procedures to Impeach President Musharraf.
It is little wonder that the two parties did join forces as they both have good reasons to turn on Musharraf. Head of the PPP party Asif Ali Zardari is the widower of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto and the current Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif was ousted by in military coupe led by Musharraf.
Years ago when the then General Musharraf took the presidency he claimed it was save the nation from a corrupt government and he also promised to restore democracy as soon as possible. Six years later and we the image of a softly spoken polite but ruthless man hanging onto power at all costs. Despite promising to give up his uniform he hung onto it as long as possible. When the Supreme Courts looked as if they were about to rule against his right to be a President for a third term he sacked the judiciary and replaced them with his handpicked men. He put the nation under martial law and ordered mass arrests. In the mean time Benazir Bhutto was assassinated leaving questions about government complacence or worse collusion in the killing. Today many Pakistani’s do blame directly Musharraf for Bhutto’s death.
Thing have changed from the time that General Musharraf used his position in the armed forced to take power and appoint himself president. Bhutto’s death shook the nation perhaps more than the execution of her father by a previous Military Dictator; The dismissal of the judiciary anger Lawyers across the nation; Imran Khan was arrested on vague charges and then released; but most importantly President Musharraf was forced to give up his uniform.
Despite changing the law so that the President is now the head of the armed forces he was no longer a General with the same powers to bark orders to an obedient bunch of armed public servant. Take away his presidency and he is just another softly spoken ex-president in a pressed suit.
This appears to be a tactic that has Musharraf rattled for the first time in years as he changes his mind about whether to go to Beijing for the Olympics or not. So far it has been Yes, No, Yes and finally it is now No.
If the impeachment is successful, as it may well be, then all eyes will be on the military to see if another general feels that his time to rule has come. Yet as I mentioned before the death of Bhutto is not a small factor that has turned many away from seeing the army as benign helpers and without support the army has little power.
Musharraf - No longer has his uniform. If removed he is powerless.
A few months ago it would have seemed impossible to imagine that the Dictator of Pakistan would be fighting for his own survival. Yet that is what appears to be happening at this moment as two parties have formed a loose coalition against his once mighty and unstoppable ruling party. After settling their differences to take control of the parliament are now starting procedures to Impeach President Musharraf.
It is little wonder that the two parties did join forces as they both have good reasons to turn on Musharraf. Head of the PPP party Asif Ali Zardari is the widower of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto and the current Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif was ousted by in military coupe led by Musharraf.
Years ago when the then General Musharraf took the presidency he claimed it was save the nation from a corrupt government and he also promised to restore democracy as soon as possible. Six years later and we the image of a softly spoken polite but ruthless man hanging onto power at all costs. Despite promising to give up his uniform he hung onto it as long as possible. When the Supreme Courts looked as if they were about to rule against his right to be a President for a third term he sacked the judiciary and replaced them with his handpicked men. He put the nation under martial law and ordered mass arrests. In the mean time Benazir Bhutto was assassinated leaving questions about government complacence or worse collusion in the killing. Today many Pakistani’s do blame directly Musharraf for Bhutto’s death.
Benazir Bhutto - Her fathers execution shook the nation and hers shook it even more. Do not underestimate the dead.
Thing have changed from the time that General Musharraf used his position in the armed forced to take power and appoint himself president. Bhutto’s death shook the nation perhaps more than the execution of her father by a previous Military Dictator; The dismissal of the judiciary anger Lawyers across the nation; Imran Khan was arrested on vague charges and then released; but most importantly President Musharraf was forced to give up his uniform.
Despite changing the law so that the President is now the head of the armed forces he was no longer a General with the same powers to bark orders to an obedient bunch of armed public servant. Take away his presidency and he is just another softly spoken ex-president in a pressed suit.
This appears to be a tactic that has Musharraf rattled for the first time in years as he changes his mind about whether to go to Beijing for the Olympics or not. So far it has been Yes, No, Yes and finally it is now No.
If the impeachment is successful, as it may well be, then all eyes will be on the military to see if another general feels that his time to rule has come. Yet as I mentioned before the death of Bhutto is not a small factor that has turned many away from seeing the army as benign helpers and without support the army has little power.
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Comment by D. Armenta
The Florida Keys and Everglades
The Black Sheep Chronicles
What constitutes bad manners?
The male mystique
Debate Fan
Oh, what am I saying? A leader who wants the best for their people is rarer than black diamonds.
Well, at least the people benefit from this...for now.
Comment by Damo
For the Sake of Argument
My Apologetics
There is no love lost between any of them. One had the other jailed for a period.
It is only the desire to be rid of Musharraf and the military dictatorship that ha united them. After that they will more than likely implode down to infighting and back stabbing. Like the good old days.