Adil Najam
Since yesterday the “I” word – impeachment – has begun to be thrown around a lot.
Some quarters seem to think that it just happen this time. Others suggest that it is more talk than action and the numbers needed to pull this are still not there.
Coming out of the “critical” Nawaz Sharif-Asif Zardari meetings one keeps wondering how much of this is an effort to keep the coalition going and how much is a real push to change the essential political equations of Pakistan. There are reports that Gen. Musharraf is taking this move seriously enough to cancel his trip to China (to attend the Olympics opening ceremony). On the other hand some of Gen. Musharraf’s supporters are claiming that no such cancellation has happened. We do know, however, that he is taking this challenge seriously and lining up his supporters.
All in all, there is too much noise to say what is happening. But something is clearly happening. Does the PPP-PML(N) have the numbers they need to go ahead? Does the President have the numbers he needs to stop it? And what of all the external actors and where they may lean, why and for what?
Interestingly, we had run a ATP Poll back in June asking you what you thought would have happened to Gen. Musharraf by October 2008? The majority (38%) had thought that he would be impeached by then. A significant number (31%) thought that by October 2008 we woudl be still muddling through as we are now.
We do not intend to open the Poll again, but it does seem that either of those two answers could turn out to be true again. Indeed, even our earlier Poll on the subject, from October 2007, may still be relevant in its results!
So, since we can’t make full sense of exactly what all of this adds up to, we thought we woudl ask our best source: You. What do you think? What is happening? What might happen? And why?
@Humaira
Before you sing in unison with the band-wagon of impeaching Musharraf, ask yourself the following?
1. Who elected Nawaz Sharif and Zardari? Their own parties are being run as un-democratically as possible. Zardari got his family and yes-men (and women) romping the hooch while Nawaz Sharif is ruling the roost of PML (N) with his family members at every position.
2. Lets make this debacle fair for ALL. Let the President withdraw the NRO and first let the Zardari and his Cronies pay for their looting of the national exchequer in the past. Nawaz should also be tried for the Aircraft case against him.
3. I was never in favor of Musharaf a few months ago but now seeing the likes of Zardari and particularly the Sharif brothers ”jahilana” acts! I feel his presence is necessary!
After all in order to keep the ”baighairats” from PPP and PML (N) in check, we need a bigger ”baighairat” in the President House.
Bring it ON Zardari and Nawaz, lets see if you could put your money where your frequently lying mouth is this time!
No Humaria!! its not that simple.
We have an illegal president under whom the elections were held following his illegal declaration of emergency, those elected were sworn in, even if they were wearing black bands or whatever they were sworn, by an illegal president who gave them protection by unprecedented act of NRO and are sitting in the parliament because of illegal actions of an illegal president and those who themselves at one time or another attacked a supreme Court, got rod of chief justice now acting like saints are demanding and are prepared to impeach a president.
No, I am not saying Musharraf should stay or go. I am just pointing out the reality.
What a joke!!!
Amina from the north, no it is not difficult to understand at all. It is very simple, if you only think about it.
Zardari and Nawaz Sharif will not impeach the Musharraf. The Parliament will. that’s what it is suppose to do. I guess you have gotten unaccustomed to a parliament that actually does its job. Like kicking out an illegal President.
Simple enough, isn’t it.
i don’t get it.If the president was illegal elected, are the two guys(naawzdari) who are not in the parliament are legally allow to impeach the president???????????????????? It is just a question , do we really have any constitution.