Days of anxiety are far from over

Aug.19, 2008

Days of anxiety are far from over


Pervez Musharraf, isolated and under fire over the past 18 months, has announced his resignation in the face of a threatened impeachment by the ruling coalition government.
It was a foregone conclusion that Musharraf would have to step down after his allies lost the parliamentary elections held in February. The ruling coalition demanded his resignation but the former army chief and firm US ally who seized power in a coup in 1999 refused to let go until Monday when it became absolutely clear that he would definitely be impeached on charges of violating of the constitution and of gross misconduct if he did not step down.
Musharraf should have seen the writing on the wall and could have taken the dignified way out earlier, but his fears that leaders of the ruling coalition — including Nawaz Sharif whom he toppled and sent into exile nine years ago — would seek to exact revenge from him after he leaves office appeared to have prevented him from quitting.
The military, which has always played a decisive role in Pakistani politics, deserves praise for remaining neutral in the conflict, leaving politics to politicians.
Had the military intervened, then it would have led to more chaos and destablisation of the country.
Musharraf's future remained uncertain on Monday, with the government unlikely to grant his request to be allowed to stay at his half-built farmhouse outside Islamabad.
It would appear that Saudi mediation led to his resignation in a deal that involves a Musharraf resignation in return for immunity against trial and/or a safe haven in Saudi Arabia.
So much for the former commando who was once seen as the saviour of Pakistan from political chaos and economic crises.
During his nine turbulent years in office and under constant threat of being targeted for assassination —  the Pakistani presidency is called the world's most dangerous job — Musharraf himself insisted time and again that he was the only person who could save Pakistan.
In his announcement on Monday, Musharraf maintained that no charge against him could be proved but that the impeachment process would have plunged the country into more uncertainty. "This is not the time for individual bravado," he declared.
The best message he leaves behind is that the problems Pakistan faced could be solved if people worked together and believed in themselves.
His resignation has raised hopes that it would lead to a strengthening of the government and democracy in the country if the partners in the ruling coalition agree to settle their differences for the common cause of the people.
What is left uncertain now is the course in Pakistan of the US-led "war on terror," which depended heavily of Islamabad's co-operation under the reign of Musharraf.
In fact, the almost unreserved support that Musharraf extended to the US had led to bitter political confrontation and worsening militant violence within the country.
The leaders of the ruling coalition have their political imperatives that would not leave much room for US plans to step up its "war on terror" by staging military operations in Pakistani territory. They have already signalled that they could not and would not permit such operations.
Washington could be expected to use whatever means available to it to ensure continued Pakistani support for its war against Al Qaeda and Taliban and this spells trouble for the Pakistani government if it fails to fall in line.
Given the US approach as militancy continues to mount in the border areas, the days of uncertainty and tension have not really ended with the resignation of Musharraf. The onus is on Washington to reassure the people and government of Pakistan that they would not be turned into pawns in the games that the US plays in South Asia.
The sole assurance that has come from the US and its allies is that the transition from military rule to civilian regime came through elections and not a coup, and therefore it is a sounder basis for future action than the weakened Musharraf.
Let us all hope that the US and its allies do live up to the expectations attached to this assurance.