Posted on 02/20/2008 10:37:02 AM PST by squidly
Musharraf: The impeachment factor By Kamran Rehmat
In the next 24 hours, some contours of the next Pakistani government both at the centre and the country's four provinces will begin to take shape.
As expected, the polls threw up a divided mandate that relegated embattled president Pervez Musharraf's allies to the sidelines but Pakistanis are hoping that the top gainers — the Pakistan People's Party (PPP) and the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) — will look beyond the short term lure of power.
Indeed, together they have the strength — with likely help from the supporting leftwing Awami National Party (ANP) and a stream of independents — to make the difference
Virtual referendum
Ultimately, the simple premise of the 2008 general elections turned into a virtual referendum on the controversially re-elected president and recently retired army chief.
Shafqat Mahmood, a former PPP MP, and now a respected political commentator, concurs.
"This election has clearly been a referendum against Mr Musharraf and whatever he stood for.
"If he tries to fight a losing battle by manipulating political parties or tries to create factions within them, he will just prolong the nation's agony. He must do the decent thing and quit."
Given to years of the management of power, boosted by surviving three assassination attempts, Musharraf is trying to put on a brave face.
(Excerpt) Read more at english.aljazeera.net ...
Impeachment is an empty threat by some over-enthusiastic partisans.
How many knew that Senator’s Kerry, Biden, & Hagel were “observing” the election in Pakistan. Wandering around ticking off all the locals that to them looked like the US of America sticking their noses into Pakistan’s elections. Of course Kerry, Biden, & Hagel are now thrilled that our partner against terrorism is on the losing side; go figure that.
I’m not convinced that Musharraf is/was our best possible partner in the WOT, i.e. Bhutto would have been better for us (never mind that she was a socialist, that would have been Pakistan’s problem, not our’s.)
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