Adil Najam
This seems to have suddenly become a news-heavy day. Lal Masjid blast on teh one hand and now Musharraf-Benazir meetings. The News reports on this:
The second round of meeting between President General Pervez Musharraf and former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto is underway here, the reliable sources said. The first round of the meeting lasted for about lasted for 55 minutes and it was a short a meeting. The ISI chief, some personalities of Arab countries and western diplomats also attended the meeting, the other sources said. Although the details of the meeting were not issued, however, the reports said that Musharraf and Benazir discussed important issues including current political situation in Pakistan.
“If Musharraf-Benazir meeting has been held it could be the final round of PPP-government talks and it is hoped that this meeting will have long-term positive impact on the politics of Pakistan, said Federal Minister for Railways Sheikh Rashid Ahmed while commenting on the meeting. Meanwhile, the reports said that Musharraf will also hold meeting with former Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif and Chief Minister Punjab Shahabaz Sharif in Saudi Arabia during the second leg of Musharraf’s visit. However, the PML (N) sources have rejected the reports of Musharraf-Nawaz meeting.
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Things are still too much in flux and too complicated to comment meaningfully on this. Much coming from the insta-pundits is still either the restatement of their already known positions that they now churn out as spin, or is entirely speculative. So, we will wait to see how the dust settles. But it is quite clear that the dust has been kicked and things are in flux. Abb ount kis karwat baithay ga?
In order to get a sense of the pulse of ATP on this issue we are asking the same poll question about a BB-Musharraf deal we did back in April. Let us see what you have to say now.
I would recommend reading today’s edition of The News. They have stated that a deal has now been completed.
http://tinyurl.com/26xjet
Imran said this last night on Capital Talk, “the problem with extremism is political and has no military solution”. NWFP Governer, Aurackzai has come out and said the same. This is no Taleban fighting the Army, it is more widespread across the tribal belt. Pashtuns think that this is a fight between them and America. Musharraf’s rule at the top only helps embolden these attitudes. Unless we return to a democratic setup, where people are willing to listen to each other, this is a looming disaster that is only going to get worse.
I agree with Adil Najams analysis in The News —-
“Herein lies General Musharraf’s dilemma. Indeed, Pakistan’s dilemma. Bands of extremist militants have declared war on Pakistan. It is clear that most of Pakistan wants to contain and eradicate this militancy. It is also clear that General Musharraf would also like to do the same. It is not at all clear, however, that most of Pakistan would stand by General Musharraf if he takes on the militants in any significant way at this point. This is not because Pakistanis have suddenly gotten to love militants. They have not. It is because Pakistanis have lost all trust in General Musharraf. To put it rather bluntly, they are fed up with military rule. However, to move against the militants in any meaningful way, General Musharraf needs deep public support; the type of support that the chief justice’s movement had. He does not have that support and no amount of public spending on borrowed money can buy that kind of support.”
Viqar, yes you are right. The constitutional amendment will be to overrule the 2 year mandatory gap between holding a government position and a public office, and not to hold two offices at the same time. Either way, he will twist and contort the constitution whichever way he needs to, so that his stay in power is ensured and extended beyond this year. Here is a question; if the parliament passes an amendment by two thirds majority, can it be challenged in the SC on any grounds. My guess is not, but I am wondering if there is way out of it if it can be proved that the amendment was subjudice as it was based on extending an already illegal rule, or if clashes with any previous SC decision. Yes, Musharraf has already been allowed extra constitutional power once, constitution can’t be amended again to extend his rule.
According to Dawn, the assemblies are about to be dissolved
here