Tuesday, August 19, 2008

Musharraf will wait for his political comeback. An interesting story

Tuesday, August 19, 2008

By Shaheen Sehbai

KARACHI: General Pervez Musharraf has finally broken down and has accepted defeat, whether fully on his own terms is not yet clear, but he has set a very precious and respectable precedent for future of Pakistani politics and democracy.

By resigning in a constitutional way and allowing a non-violent, smooth and dignified transition, he has broken the tradition of past military dictators who would never quit, unless forcibly pushed, assassinated or removed unconstitutionally.

Of course the stage was set for this ultimate defeat by the political parties through their votes of no-confidence in the provincial assemblies, yet Mr Musharraf could have become a big spoiler, if he had so wanted. He had all the powers to do so, as he said in his final departing address.

But his last words gave away a lot of what remains as an active thought process in Musharraf's mind. The way he presented a long list of his achievements and successes it appeared that he was making the pitch, as if in an electoral contest, for his political comeback, believing firmly that he had, and would like to have, a future political role in Pakistani politics.

This role is not yet available to him but much will depend on how the coalition partners and major political parties behave in the next few months and years. If the six months after the Feb 18 elections are any guide, the omens are not very encouraging but politicians have to rise up to the occasion if they have to survive.

Musharraf had very obviously and conveniently devised the wait and see strategy after the elections as he expected, somewhat rightly, that the PPP and the PML-N would not be able to keep the coalition together and once they break up he and his supporters will again get a breakthrough and regain the initiative. He came perilously close to achieving his goal, of course through efforts he could make as the man occupying the presidency.

Yet Mr Asif Zardari and Nawaz Sharif stood together, demonstrating that they have understood one core and fundamental fact for their political survival and success ñ their sticking together for the common cause, as enunciated in the Charter of Democracy. It is that core value which defeated Musharraf and all his machinations.

Musharraf's insistence that he would stay in Pakistan is again based primarily on the calculation that until the two major parties break up he should be provided a safe stay and when they break up, he would re-launch himself, probably as a leader of the Karachi-led Mohajir population, with or even without, the blessings of Mr Altaf Hussain.

This streak of leading the Karachi political scene was more than evident in his recent visits to Karachi where he tried to create his own lobby of businessmen and mohajir leaders, almost to the exclusion of Altaf Hussain and his hard core supporters.

Musharraf's address one night a few weeks ago to a select group of Karachi businessmen, where his strong supporter Governor Ishrat ul Ebad was present and Karachi Mayor Mustufa Kamal made his famous, but mysterious, comment that within a few months the geography of Karachi may change, was seen by Altaf Hussain as an attempt to challenge him on his turf.

Within hours of that Musharraf address, his first after months of post-Feb 18 polls hibernation, Altaf Bhai had to arrange his own gathering of Karachi businessmen and address them from London. Why this need for a parallel event felt by the MQM headquarters in London was obvious: Mr Musharraf was trying to hijack his party and Altaf Bhai is not an amateur in fighting turf wars. Soon thereafter both Governor Ebad and Mayor were summoned to London for whatever happens to MQM men when they err.

Yet while it is too early to discuss the future of Musharraf, the coalition has to decide whether they would let him go Scot free, let him enjoy the interim period of absence from the scene, and then bounce back when the people get frustrated with the democratic experience or possible coalition infighting.

The alternative for them is not to allow Musharraf to leave the country, press on the charges that they have been preparing against him, restore the judiciary in its original form and let these independent judges decide whether Musharraf is guilty of any punishable crimes and what sentence should he be handed.

The mid-term strategy to get this possible political threat out of their way would be to get Musharraf convicted in a fair trial on any one or more charges and get him sentenced so that he is disqualified for holding an elected office.

Any indemnity, if offered under whatever domestic or foreign pressures, must be strictly conditional with a definite term that Musharraf would never indulge in politics and would not be qualified to hold any elected office. This could form the basis for a new NRO to be written by Mr Zardari for a fallen dictator who must now be left to stew in his own juices as people of Pakistan celebrate.

Yet if the fallen dictator is given a general amnesty, there is no reason on earth to offer the same to all the corrupt cronies and middlemen, who had descended on Pakistan from all around the world to enjoy power, pelf and perks. These men, like PCB Chairman Dr Nasim Ashraf and his types, must be brought to book and made examples of.
Musharraf will wait for his political comeback
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Thursday, August 14, 2008

Not the time to resist, says musharraf

President Pervez Musharraf said political reconciliation needed to be sought for stability of Pakistan not the resistance.
ARY OneWorld Leading News Protal of Pakistan (Urdu - English), Watch Live ARY News,8/14/2008 3:11:34 PM

so mr mush, y r y resisting??? y dont u go home when 3 assemblies have showed no confidence in u??? when will u get unpopular???? when u say tht its not the time to resist, whom r u addressing??? the coalition parties???? y dont u apply ur sayings to urself???

kuch to sharam karein sadar sahab... jab bacha bacha gaaliyan dega tab aapko feel hoga k aap unpolpular honay waalay hain???? chalein sharam na karein, damagh hi istemaal ker lein... ohh sorry! chalein aisa karein kisi damagh walay se mashwara ker lein...
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War on Terror, its root cause as per Gillani's point of view

Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani said the war on terrorism and extremism is the war of survival for Pakistan, adding, ‘We will fight this war to ensure the writ of the government.’
...
Poverty is the main cause behind terrorism and the government has hammered out policy to cut down this menace to nothing, he observed.

ARY OneWorld Leading News Protal of Pakistan (Urdu - English), Watch Live ARY News


i disagree with both of his stmts.... nothing will happen to pakistan if pakistan stops attacking the bearded pakhtoons just because they do not want american or anyone else's occupation on their land... poverty is not the cause... its foreign occupation on their land... deprivation of rights... suppression of their breed... even if do not do anything for their poverty but u leave their area for them n let them live with their traditions... they'll do no harm to u...

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MQM helps Sindh Assembly pass a unanimous resolution against Musharraf :)

The 168-member assembly of the southern province of Sindh Wednesday unanimously passed a resolution that demanded a vote of confidence on President Pervez Musharraf in the presidential electoral college or his resignation.

One of Musharraf's devout allies, the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), staged a walkout as the debate on the resolution started, leaving no one in the house to defend the beleaguered leader.

The Sindh assembly has around 69 pro-Musharraf members from the MQM and three other smaller parties.
Sindh Assembly passes resolution against Musharraf's ouster

PML-Q and MQM should have voted and prevent a unanimous resolution... i mean this is the province where mush could get some support... 60 to 70 legislators could have voted for him n let him feel a bit stronger... but the 'representatives' of ppl of khi, who were blindly supporting mush for last so many years, suddenly turned their back towards the president... will the ppl of khi who kept supportin mush for many reasons includin the 'economic boom' ask their legislators y did this happen??? y did the legislators left their beloved man alone in difficult times??? wht is the stance of mqm??? wht caused them to change their loyalties???

From other provinces, where there was no or negligible support for mush, the resolution could not pass unanimously. Even in punjab, where there r so many critics of mush, PML-Q stood bravely for their leader... But in a province where almost 40% legislators were musharraf's ally, the resolution passed without any resistance... '0' votes against the resolution

the credit goes to 'representatives' of ppl of khi, and PML-Q... well done both parties...

it seems tht mqm is now friends with ppp coz it only needs govt. it only needs incentives... who cares for the ppl n their wishes... will ppl of khi think abt this behavior by their party??? will they ever hold them responsible for anything???

the time is not far when ppl of khi who were the strongest supporters of mush, will have anti mush sentiment... ppl r just waitin for an order from the headquarters, their only leader, the world's only honest man... altaf bhai... this is how mqm proceeds... this wht they call politics

Also see the following:
MQM members’ decision to boycott the session was described by Sindh Information Minister Shazia Mari as "a positive role" and a victory for the people of the province.

Earlier, a joint meeting of parliamentary party of MQM in Sindh Assembly and Rabta Committee late on Tuesday night announced that the party would not support the impeachment resolution against President Musharraf. A statement released by MQM affirmed its support for President Musharraf claiming that the party never ditches its friends.

Khaleej Times Online - Sindh MPAs pass no-trust motion against Musharraf

a unanimous resolution clearly shows tht "MQM never ditches its friends" hehehe... it just shows its back when friends need it... MQM actually is a friend in need... i.e. it is friends with u only if it is in need :)... wht does it need???? govt., power n its hold on khi... thts it!
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Wednesday, August 13, 2008

Corruption charges on mush

DAWN - Cartoon; August 12, 2008

I do not think corruption charges should have been there in charge sheet against mush... because corruption is what every pakistani always does... so y shld hold him responsible for the corruption when there r stronger charges available n greater crimes mush committed... he was responsible for sowing hatred among the federating units against the federation and each other... he is also responsible for damaging constitutional, social, moral, geographic and ideological basis of my country...

i'd say include all charges but do not include the corruption thing... NRO kay  bal pay aanay waalay corruption charges laga rahay hain... seems funny :) the above cartoon is very correct...
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Tuesday, August 12, 2008

Impeachment ??

WITH the judges issue having apparently taken the back seat, the national scene now seems focussed on the president’s impeachment. Certain questions crop up. If the PPP co-chairperson had to make common cause with the PML-N, why did Mr Asif Ali Zardari have to wait for all these four months? He agreed to sign the Murree Declaration, which visualised an April 30 deadline for the restoration of the judges, extended it to May 12 and later appeared to be going back on it again. If he had agreed to stick to the Murree Declaration the nation would have been spared several unsavoury developments — like the PML-N’s withdrawal from the federal cabinet while the budget-making was on and the lawyers’ long march. The PML-N’s priority all along had been the judges’ restoration, which in its opinion would make President Pervez Musharraf go. It seems Mr Zardari feels that getting rid of the president is easier than restoring the judges.

Now that the grand coalition looks determined to go ahead with Musharraf’s impeachment all sides need to keep in mind the overriding need for ending the agony that has gripped the nation since March 9 last year when Chief Justice Iftikhar was made non-functional. Unfortunately, it is Pakistan that has been non-functional for 17 months, the ‘who will go to Beijing’ controversy itself announcing to the whole world the kind of ludicrous politics that exists in the country. The lawyers are unhappy with Thursday’s announcement, because they wonder what would be their fate if the impeachment move fails. Besides, sections of the people still doubt that the grand coalition will finally clinch it.

The constitution does provide for impeachment, but the procedure has not been spelt out. The National Assembly speaker has to make rules for what is going to be the first — and an unfortunate — constitutional move in Pakistan’s chequered political history. We thus hope that the speaker will make the rules at the earliest.

On Friday, the Senate saw angry exchanges because the opposition expressed the fear that there could be horse-trading to buy votes. To pre-empt the sale and purchase of lawmakers, it is essential that the vote for the impeachment be by a show of hands or division rather than by secret ballot. The president has resolved to fight rather than seek an honourable exit, and there are reports he is being advised recourse to the Supreme Court. This could prove to be a harrowing development, and the crisis could drag on indefinitely, the ultimate sufferer being the people. The onus is on the coalition partners to take the impeachment process to its culmination as quickly as possible. Pakistan has virtually come to a halt, and the nation feels as if there is no government.
Dawn Editorial, August 10


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Saturday, August 9, 2008

Impeachment vs Restoration

Rise of Pakistan
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delayin tactics

I am unhappy with the decision made by the ruling coalition... impeaching and sending mush home is not the solution... they shld had restored the judges... n then decide whatever they want to... the argument tht restoring judges will result in conflict with presidency is invalid... i mean its strange to assume tht mush will hit back if we restore judges but will remain silent n will not hit back if we directly attack him... come on nawaz n zardari... haven't u seen this guy before???? he has couped twice n each time makin an excuse tht there were conspiracies being hatched against me, so for the 'greater good' of the nation n country i took unconstitutional steps...

mr. nawaz the goal is not achieved... u could not stay firm on ur principle stand... do not call this decision a success... u have been fooled once again i guess :) mush will stay there, rather will become even more powerful... n judges issue will b buried :(

u shld had left the coalition on the basis of all the delaying tactics played by zardari n co. ... now mush can refer to the 'neutralized judiciary' for help, n they'll certainly help him... he is their boss... he appointed them for the 'greater good' of the nation n the state... how can they betray their 'constitutional' boss who is not eligible to b president by any law :) ...

in my opinion mush is in a position to handle this impeachment thing successfully n he'll stay there... only an independent judiciary could have punished him for his wrong doings...