Re: ‘Deal done’ - Benazir agrees to Musharraf’s re-election in uniform
Well Nawaz is always picking up the check, while everyone else’s enjoys. 
http://thenews.jang.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=66944
**Welcome aboard **
By Mir Jamilur Rahman
Strong indications have emerged pointing to a detente between Benazir Bhutto and President Musharraf. People who want a peaceful transition from military to civilian rule have welcomed this development but the reaction of the political parties has been a big surprise. Political parties that have generally opposed PPP tooth and nail and wanted it dead and buried have suddenly developed great love and affection for it. This change of heart has come about because media reports say that Benazir Bhutto and President General Pervez Musharraf have secretly met in Abu Dhabi and struck a deal to accommodate each other politically. This news has caused anxiety among Benazir’s opponents. They are worried that by offering President Musharraf a hand of friendship she is inviting ill fate that would wipe out her party. Benazir’s opponents are warning her not to go near the President. If she did, they say, PPP would lose popular support. Strangely, they seem unhappy with the prospect of Benazir losing popular support. On the contrary, they should have been rejoicing because their major opponent has opted for self-destruction. They are cautioning her that she will be committing hara-kiri by coming to terms with President Musharraf. However, it is not for the love of PPP that its opponents have suddenly become worried about its future. The truth is Benazir’s opponents are no match to the PPP. They know that PPP is a very tough opponent in the elections. The real challenge to the PPP could only come from the PML, if united under one flag and not divided between N and Q. The anguish of the PPP detractors is understandable. If Benazir Bhutto joins Musharraf’s camp, they would not be able to put up a joint opposition to Musharraf. If the Musharraf-Benazir deal comes through, the ARD, and the recently formed All Parties Democratic Movement would virtually collapse. Thus any chance of building a grand alliance against Musharraf would vanish. The accusation that by shaking hands with the military dictator Benazir Bhutto has betrayed people is frivolous and unfounded.
To be certain, there is hardly any leader or party that at one time or the other has not welcomed the military intervention and collaborated with the military dictator. Take the current situation. The MMA, whose main components are JUI and JI, is exclusively ruling NWFP and has an equal share in Balochistan. In fact, the MMA is enjoying the fruits of the two worlds simultaneously; being in the government and the opposition at the same time. Maulana Fazlur Rehman’s interview to a Lahore paper strongly indicates that he would not be averse to strike a deal with President Musharraf. MQM is a part of government in Sindh and Centre. It has not hurt the MQM to sit with the military dictator. Benazir Bhutto has adopted a sensible course to pull the country out of confusion and confrontation syndrome. She wants less polarisation and more national cohesion. In addition, the wave of extremism and terrorism that has been unleashed in Pakistan by al-Qaeda cannot be conquered without creating broad-based national consensus. It will need total commitment by the government and opposition to win the battle against extremism and terrorism. If Pakistan failed to win this battle, then others would do it. Benazir is a natural ally of President Musharraf in the fight against terrorism and extremism. She sincerely believes, like President Musharraf does, that if extremism and terrorism of suicide bombers is not tamed, it would destroy the cultural, religious and social fibre of Pakistani society. She had the courage and conviction to support military action against Lal Masjid without double-speak. No other leader, either from government or opposition, could say unequivocally as Benazir did that Lal Masjid was not a mosque but an arsenal of automatic rifles, grenades and rocket launchers. One may call it a deal, a working arrangement or accommodation, but that is what politics is all about. One has to be pragmatic to the extent of tolerating one’s own enemies. What Benazir Bhutto is asking is not really much. First, she wants a level playing field for elections and surety that they will be conducted transparently and honestly. What she is asking for would benefit all the parties. Second, she wants to return to Pakistan unhindered and unconditionally to participate in the elections. Third, she wants repeal of the law which restricts a prime minister to two terms. It is a bad law because it does not specify the length of the term. Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif have both been prime ministers twice but the total length of their respective terms does not exceed four years.
What can Benazir give Musharraf? First, Musharraf would get the backing of the largest party which polled highest number of votes in the last elections. Second, he would have on his side the most articulate politician to help the cause of Pakistan domestically and internationally. To be sure, Benazir Bhutto continues to insist that she would not accept a president in uniform. However, Benazir may be spared to make a final decision in this regard as the uniform is bound to be challenged in the apex court. There are other legal complications as well, such as re-election of Musharraf by the current assemblies and whether President Musharraf would be immediately eligible to contest elections after retiring from the army. These issues will either be decided by the court or by amending the constitution to pave the way for President Musharraf’s re-election. There are rumours that there will be desertions if Benazir Bhutto opted for a deal with President Musharraf. Anybody who deserts PPP for this reason will be committing a stupid mistake. The rank and file of PPP should have the intelligence to realise that PPP has been in the wilderness for the last 11 years and yet it polled highest number of votes in 2002 elections. Imagine the number of votes PPP could poll if Benazir was heading the election campaign in person. President Musharraf would not have any deal with any political party at the expense of PML-Q. This party has stood firm in his support and backed his policies to the best of its abilities. It should not have any thoughts of rebelling against the party leadership because it will harm its election prospects badly. Who would be the next prime minister? The present line-up indicates that no single party would be able to win simple majority. Therefore, the leader of the party that wins the highest number of seats in the National Assembly would be invited to form the government. Possibilities of coalition government comprising two or more parties therefore appear realistic. Whosoever becomes the Prime Minister; Pakistan would no more remain unipolar, it will become bipolar.