Re: The story behind ‘Benazir-Musharraf contacts’
Brother, please give some thoughts before giving value to an article : )
TimesonLine: Is this a serious newspaper? Do they read article before posting? Do they know that even dates are important when quoting articles?
The article makes no sense and it is absurd (even original article the paper quoted, that is from ‘The Sunday times’ was absurd too). Four options in conclusion of the article: Just imagine that how all four options are absurd.
The options given:
Well, she was given this option by President Musharraf in 2002 when President was intending to make Amin Fahim Prime Minister. But BB is scared that if anyone else would become prime minister, as Pakistan politics goes, she would lose complete control over the party, Party would get hijacked. Hence she did not agree. So, this is not President Problem but BB problem. How can she agree today? Even if she would agree, that would be what President wants anyhow :).
Well, as option itself mentions, 3 months. Presidential election has to happen before 15th October. So 15th Oct – 3 months = 15th July. Thus, date on 22 July means, date has passed for quick election. No option left.
After 9 years of commanding the army (President Musharraf became Chief in 1998). He is considered to be much closer to the army officers than all his predecessors. He selected and promoted each and every one of the ranked officers in the army to his own satisfaction, sharing all his decisions with core commanders (who are his own appointees), it would be surprise if Musharraf is out of touch with his own army and this writer is in better shape to know the thinking and rumblings in the army :). I think that this writer is day dreaming.
It seems that the writer does not even know how Pakistan army functions. Writer could not even understand that President Musharraf do not even have the option he mentioned, of returning to barracks. In this regards, there are only 3 options with President:
President Musharraf keeps Presidency and chief-of-army staff position both.
President Musharraf keeps Presidency position and resigns from chief position.
President Musharraf resigns from both positions.
Option to keep chief-of-army staff position and give up presidency position is not there, because chief-of-army stays chief for only 3 years and then retires. President is chief since 1998, or since last 9 years, and he is keeping chief position, because he is President.
So, this article is completely absurd and out of date. 