Re: Musharraf will not be in office by this time next year.
Aha I see. If Musharaf is not in power who will be? Should we invest in BB? Will that be better for you?
leave it 2 de people of pakistan
why you worry
Re: Musharraf will not be in office by this time next year.
Further reports on the last months of the junta, from the well respected Time magazine
http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1636142,00.html
Musharraf’s Political Future in Doubt
(ISLAMABAD, Pakistan) — From the dusty streets of Punjab to the privileged ranks of the ruling parliamentary party, the mood in Pakistan is turning against its military leader.
President Gen. Pervez Musharraf’s bungled attempt to oust the country’s top judge three months ago has backfired badly, fueling a national protest movement and seriously threatening his political survival.
Even erstwhile supporters of his eight-year rule are urging the pro-U.S. general to resign as army chief by year’s end and allow a civilian-led government.
While Western governments still expect their key ally in the fight against al-Qaeda to weather the storm, and stay on as a non-military president, Musharraf has yet to make his intentions plain — deepening uncertainty in the country before his current term expires in October.
With parliamentary elections also due around the year’s end, disquiet is growing among his own political base. Prominent figures within the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Q are now openly criticizing his March 9 ouster of Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammed Chaudhry that unleashed violence in Karachi that killed more than 40 people, and canvassing a conciliatory path toward opposition parties.
“Elections should be held in a manner that is acceptable for all. He should invite all political parties for a grand national reconciliation,” Syed Kabir Ali Wasti, a PML-Q vice-president, told The Associated Press.
“This is how he can get another five years.”
Election to the presidency is through a vote of Parliament and Pakistan’s four provincial assemblies. Musharraf’s stated strategy is to win a vote for a new term until 2012 from sitting lawmakers, even though they were elected in flawed polls in 2002 and their term too is nearly over.
“There’s increasing agreement across the country that nobody is going to swallow it,” said Ayaz Amir, a columnist for the respected Dawn newspaper. “Legal arguments aside, how can an assembly that is about to die out give another five year term to the president? That’s not what the constitution of Pakistan intended.”
Such a bid could become mired in legal challenges and become further tarnished if Pakistan’s fragmented opposition parties stage a boycott. A Western diplomat in Islamabad said Musharraf would also risk a popular backlash among voters already resentful of the rising cost of living.
When Musharraf seized power from elected Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in a bloodless 1999 coup, the general enjoyed widespread support from Pakistanis tired of rampant corruption in government. His boldness in abandoning Pakistan’s support of the Taliban in Afghanistan after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks won him the trust of the West. Billions in aid and shrewd financial management helped kickstart the economy.
If Musharraf loses his struggle to stay in power, many analysts expect the new government to be led by the secular party of exiled former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, who echoes the general’s pledges to combat extremism and stay close to Washington. Opinion polls are rare in Pakistan, but some commentators assert that Islamist parties are losing ground.
Many here consider Musharraf’s record in the war on terror to be mixed and are increasingly resentful of privileges afforded to the army, double-digit food inflation and a failure to restore democracy.
His clumsy suspension of Chief Justice Chaudhry for apparently minor charges of professional misconduct — a case being scrutinized in the Supreme Court — reinforced perceptions of an overbearing military and set in motion a series of rallies by lawyers and opposition parties that have drawn tens of thousands.
“This was the first trial of his ability since 9/11 and he failed to deal with it,” said Wasti from the PML-Q. “Now the people, the whole nation is hostile. There are cracks in the ruling party over this issue.”
The bloodshed in Karachi, and Musharraf’s defense of the pro-government Mutahida Qaumi Movement accused of being behind most of the violence, further hurt his credibility. It has also damaged the prospects for a deal with Bhutto, whose party is probably Pakistan’s most popular and could potentially smooth the way for his re-election as president.
“My assessment is that he is dead politically, he’s on his way out,” said veteran politician Iftikhar Gilani, who served as law minister under Bhutto in the late 1980s but later ran for office, unsuccessfully, on a PMLQ ticket. “By October, he won’t be there.” Mushahid Hussain, PML-Q secretary-general, concedes there has been negative fallout from the judicial crisis but claims an “equilibrium” has been reached. He said that ultimately voters would credit Musharraf’s role in building the economy and a more liberal society.
**The voice from the street is far less sympathetic. **
Of 15 citizens interviewed at random by the AP in the cities of Karachi, Multan and Lahore, only one — a soldier — backed Musharraf. The rest were either apathetic or hostile.
**“Musharraf should resign from his both offices and hand over the country’s rule to real representatives of the public,” said Lahore waiter Zulfiqar Ahmad, a father of five who grumbled about rising prices. **
“While we stand in long queues at banks to deposit our utility bills, an army man in uniform gets his job done in minutes,” said Sayed Qureshi, a student in Multan who works at a grocery store to support himself. “For God’s sake, these people in uniform should leave us alone.”
But Musharraf still enjoys the public acclaim of his chief international backer, the United States. On a visit last week, Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte called for free and fair elections in Pakistan but did not publicly press Musharraf to honor his promise to resign as army chief by the end of 2007 — a constitutional requirement.
“I think that’s something that President Musharraf will himself want to decide. This is a matter that is up to him,” Negroponte said.
There is also no outward sign of disaffection within the top ranks of the army, although retired Pakistani generals are strongly critical of the president for prolonging the army’s role in politics — a possible barometer of latent sentiments within the military.
Re: Musharraf will not be in office by this time next year.
So 15 citizens represent all of Pakistan?
How nice of you to highlight punjabis when you are always harping against them.
Re: Musharraf will not be in office by this time next year.
it’s called a ‘poll’, u may have heard of them 
The thousands of people protesting against Mush represent Pakistan
Re: Musharraf will not be in office by this time next year.
**
Now tell me a similar “Poll” asking people about MQM and Altaf would say?
Re: Musharraf will not be in office by this time next year.
Strong rumors, attributed to Shujat Hussain, circulating about the dissolution of assemblies on 8th July. Saw it on every major news channel. Political situation pretty fluid right now.
Re: Musharraf will not be in office by this time next year.
I was hoping I would not have to explain it, but since we see everything in black and white, here goes.
I had stated by the people, for the people and of the people. That is the ideal. while there is no such thing as a perfect democracy in action but on a continuum of perfect to absolutely horrid, our democractic govts tend to lean on the absolute horrid extreme.
I am not thinking of a black and whote perfect democracy verss crappy sham democracy, but many shades of grey, and even if there is no example of shining bright white democracy in the world there are plenty of off whites, that are more true to the priniples of "by the people, for the people, of the people" then the ones that tend to fall in the charcoal grey scale.
so dont give me charcoal grey again, lets atleast go for a heather grey for now. some thing that is significantly truer to the concept than what we had in past.
I know what you mean. Thanks for clarifying.
When you wrote a one liner I had to respond accordingly since your post did not explain if you knew there were many shades of grey before it gets real black.
Coming to topic: Pakistan has better democracy ( interm of freedom of speech) under Musharraf than any other military rulers before his time. Its my opinion based on my observation.
Media has many outlets now than before. We have more channels than before and everyone except few is SPECIALIZING as a moderator of talk show bringing people on TV talking on social, cultural, religious or political issues. Many of these so called experts talk plain BS on TV and get away with it.
Media is actually gone wild at times and free to present opposite views.
(I think media in Pakistan needs control in many many fronts which I can discuss in any other place appropriate for it).
People like Imran Khan as one man party comes on TV and talks nonsense on TV but still allowed to be on the media.
What more one can ask?
We have political parties running amock everywhere and making a huge deal of anything which could possibly be against the government and creating a chaos.
These parties have specialized in making the life of common man miserable (blocking roads, closing shops, strikes and walking on streets for no real reason at all) and they do not care at all for the poor and underpriveliged and even for their own children and generation being raised in the country which has so many basic problems!!!!!
They would rather make a big deal of a chief justice issue but not care of common man peoblem like lack of good roads, medical facility or health care, clean water, law and order sitution like robbery, fast delivery of postage, clean bills for utilities, even lack of electricity enough to protest and join the people on street for that cause! How many protests?
How many proposals are forwarded to the speaker by opposition for these purposes instead of sending a reference against the Prime Minister? Not that I care about the PM.
Just think for a few second guys.
I am also by no means a FAN of Musharraf or any army general ruling the country appointed and selected by someone U-KNOW-WHO..........but his grey shade is lot closer to white than others.
Re: Musharraf will not be in office by this time next year.
^ we are on the same page. Your post reads like I could have written it, although i would have many typos in there ..
I have stated on past that just because someone gets into office by voting does not mean there is a democracy.
PS: be ready for mob attack now :)
Re: Musharraf will not be in office by this time next year.
although not a scientific poll 
and if we are going to use thousands of ppl protesting as a sign, what aout the exponentially more number of people who did not bother to protest? do they represent Pakistan too?
Re: Musharraf will not be in office by this time next year.
^ we are on the same page. Your post reads like I could have written it, although i would have many typos in there ..
I have stated on past that just because someone gets into office by voting does not mean there is a democracy.
PS: be ready for mob attack now :)
Waah!
I like to repeat and enjoy what you wrote:
"Just because someone gets into office by voting does not mean there is democracy"
Good..very good.
Re: Musharraf will not be in office by this time next year.
I know what you mean. Thanks for clarifying.
When you wrote a one liner I had to respond accordingly since your post did not explain if you knew there were many shades of grey before it gets real black.
Coming to topic: Pakistan has better democracy ( interm of freedom of speech) under Musharraf than any other military rulers before his time. Its my opinion based on my observation.
Media has many outlets now than before. We have more channels than before and everyone except few is SPECIALIZING as a moderator of talk show bringing people on TV talking on social, cultural, religious or political issues. Many of these so called experts talk plain BS on TV and get away with it. Media is actually gone wild at times and free to present opposite views. (I think media in Pakistan needs control in many many fronts which I can discuss in any other place appropriate for it). People like Imran Khan as one man party comes on TV and talks nonsense on TV but still allowed to be on the media. What more one can ask?
We have political parties running amock everywhere and making a huge deal of anything which could possibly be against the government and creating a chaos. These parties have specialized in making the life of common man miserable (blocking roads, closing shops, strikes and walking on streets for no real reason at all) and they do not care at all for the poor and underpriveliged and even for their own children and generation being raised in the country which has so many basic problems!!!!!
They would rather make a big deal of a chief justice issue but not care of common man peoblem like lack of good roads, medical facility or health care, clean water, law and order sitution like robbery, fast delivery of postage, clean bills for utilities, even lack of electricity enough to protest and join the people on street for that cause! How many protests?
How many proposals are forwarded to the speaker by opposition for these purposes instead of sending a reference against the Prime Minister? Not that I care about the PM.
Just think for a few second guys.
I am also by no means a FAN of Musharraf or any army general ruling the country appointed and selected by someone U-KNOW-WHO..........but his grey shade is lot closer to white than others.
Well put deedawar!
Re: Musharraf will not be in office by this time next year.
Nice, balanced post. :k:
Re: Musharraf will not be in office by this time next year.
If they r not protesting, how does it imply that they r not anti-Musharraf? I have gone to only two protests but I am against Musharraf. Borrowing Musharraf’s own term..we r the **silent majority **who detest his rule but dont/wont/cant go to protests.
As for media freedom, Zia ud Din puts in a little perspective of the journalist community in his latest article:
All pretensions of media freedom were exposed with attacks of Geo, AAJ, and the media as a whole with Pemra Ord. 2007. Not to forget the killings of journalists across the country, sliding down in international media freedom rating and supression of information in Balochistan/FATA/AJK/NA.
Re: Musharraf will not be in office by this time next year.
Interesting points made about American ‘support’ for Pakistani leaders
http://www.dawn.com/2007/06/23/letted.htm#7
American support for Musharraf
THIS is not the first time Washington has declared full support for a Pakistani ruler. The last man to receive this backing was Nawaz Sharif. When his brother Shahbaz Sharif went to the US and held talks with American officials, they declared full support for his brother and asked him not to worry.
The Sharifs’ happiness proved short-lived. Now, Gen Musharraf is in trouble and the US is showering full support on him. This is a dangerous sign.
According to a man close to Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, American ambassador invited Bhutto and his army chief on the USA’s Independence Day function in 1977. The man who stayed back was Gen Ziaul Haq, who dismissed Bhutto within 24 hours and then hanged him in 1979.
Zia received full support from the US, chiefly because of the Soviet attack on Afghanistan. This continued till 1988 when Zia died in a mysterious plane crash.
From 1988 to 1999, both Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif played for an American gallery but failed to save their rule.
Now the all-powerful general is receiving total support and his men and women are happy. This is a dangerous sign and a lot should be read into the verbal and written statements of State Department officials.
They never opposed Shah of Iran, the Marcos of the Philippines or even Saddam of Iraq before he attacked Kuwait in the 1990s.
Washington is brutal and cruel and one can never bank on its support. It dissolves in the air. Trust your own people and have faith in them.
YUSUF KHAN
Karachi
Re: Musharraf will not be in office by this time next year.
Good point… Never thought about that.
Re: Musharraf will not be in office by this time next year.
and therein amongst all these sane, "shades of grey", "what other alternatives do we have" kind of civilized debate lies the curse of pakistan these days. I am guilty of it too. Can't see any decent alternative so we settle for the least of the rascals and mal administration.
So shall this be what one settles upon, rather settles down to? Shall this be the best one can do? And what are thre risks of such settlement, once the warmth of a debate run too civil passeth?
The lal masjid crowd is roaring to a sore. The cacaphony of yesterday's traitors and today's partnerships across lands is deafening, lines between the 'elite' corps in power are blurring...the choices ofr a basically decent man thrust into a fundamentally indecent position is being as destiny.
When you cannot distinguish between being the hunter and the hunted you are both it would seem, but remember the hunters only win, the hunted die.
It is a very grave situation indeed when we all sense, though with a pang of regret and a tear for a decent man, that whether status quo or regime toppled over, the country is ....scewed!
Re: Musharraf will not be in office by this time next year.
The PEMRA ordinance was withdrawn so what is your problem?
It might not be you but I seriously don’t get people who would prefer gunja and ***** nazir parties over musharraf. I mean seriously come on..
Re: Musharraf will not be in office by this time next year.
Well put deedawar!
Thank you.
Re: Musharraf will not be in office by this time next year.
Thank you.
Re: Musharraf will not be in office by this time next year.
and therein amongst all these sane, "shades of grey", "what other alternatives do we have" kind of civilized debate lies the curse of pakistan these days. I am guilty of it too. Can't see any decent alternative so we settle for the least of the rascals and mal administration.
So shall this be what one settles upon, rather settles down to? Shall this be the best one can do? And what are thre risks of such settlement, once the warmth of a debate run too civil passeth?
The lal masjid crowd is roaring to a sore. The cacaphony of yesterday's traitors and today's partnerships across lands is deafening, lines between the 'elite' corps in power are blurring...the choices ofr a basically decent man thrust into a fundamentally indecent position is being as destiny.
When you cannot distinguish between being the hunter and the hunted you are both it would seem, but remember the hunters only win, the hunted die.
It is a very grave situation indeed when we all sense, though with a pang of regret and a tear for a decent man, that whether status quo or regime toppled over, the country is ....scewed!
?????