This is what I had predicted and it appears that the powers that be are headed in that direction..you have to read between the lines. The key sentence is highlighted.
*US Assistant Secretary of State Richard Boucher is in Pakistan for talks ahead of elections due later this year.
Mr Boucher met senior election officials after earlier talks with Foreign Minister Khurshid Kasuri.
The visit comes after US officials said they believed President Musharraf would seek re-election from parliament after, not before, elections later this year.
In recent months Gen Musharraf has faced the most serious challenge to his rule since his 1999 coup.
Protests over his suspension of the country’s chief justice have snowballed into a pro-democracy movement by the opposition.
Headlines
BBC correspondents say much significance is being attached to Mr Boucher’s meeting with Pakistan’s chief election commissioner.
They say the purpose of the talks may be to discuss American reservations over efforts to make the elections free and fair.
Many observers have suggested that President Musharraf, a key US ally in the “war on terror”, wants to be re-elected by the current parliament, rather than a new one which may be more hostile towards him.
Comments by US state department spokesman Sean McCormack on the eve of Mr Boucher’s visit made headlines in Pakistan on Wednesday.
A central issue in Pakistan’s political crisis is Gen Musharraf’s dual role as president and head of the army.
As well as offering his thoughts on the possible timing of a presidential election, Mr McCormack said the US hoped that **if Gen Musharraf continues in political life, “he will put aside the uniform”. ***
key points
- if he continues in political life…basically casting doubt on whether he will continue in political life..period
- secondly an expectation is set that, if by chance he does, he is expected to put aside the uniform.
the only way he will stay in power for any length of time as a non uniformed president is based on how aligned he is with the top military brass and the new chief, and then what type of deal he has with the ruling party.
as far as ruling party goes, the stage is set for Benazir vs Nawaz showdown, all others will fall in BB or NS camp before or after elections. Most likely MMA and MQM would do it afterwards, ANP would most likely do it before hand, and PTI is already falling in step with Nawaz.
folks, be ready for change.
