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?
Sami-ul-Haq from Mardan:- The current government will be packed up by the President General Pervez Musharraf. He won’t be stepped down unitil completion of his tenure. He is a constitutional President and have taken all the steps in the best interest of Pakistan.
PURI QOAM KA NARA
SADAR MUSHARRAF
SADAR HAMARA
Thank you Abdullah very much for your comments and for President Musharraf
A few folks here are condemning Musharraf for doing his job in killing terrorists in Lal Masjid, FATA and Baluchistan. I ask such people, is the current govt any different? or do you think the govt should just sit idly by while terrorists smash Pakistan to bits?
You mean that first thing Justice Iftikhar Chaudary after restoration is going to do is catch musharaf by his **lls and penalize him for all his misdeeds since 12th October, 1999. Furthermore, do we think that Aitazaz will let musharaf go so easily after he restores the judiciary.
Lets think of some plausible and palpable suggestion to ease out musharaf’s agony. (fauji ha baba muft main mara jai ga koi aachi se salah do)
I like the idea from leagaleagal.
Musharraf should first restore the judges, then repeal the NRO and then resign. That would give the country an honest clean start. Musharraf will be OUT. Zardari will be OUT. Sharif will be OUT.
Maybe then we can get somewhere.