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?
Can any one please explain that if all the Judges are restored,
Will they refuse to take cases where leaders of the lawyers movement are involved? Or should there be a law stopping all these leaders to stop practicing law?
With regard to Pakistani politics our only hope is that the next military take over whenever it will be ( but it will be) completely wipe out not only the MNAs & MPAs but distribute all their properties and wealth among the countless poor millions. All other solutions will never work, mark my word.
No political movement will ever succeed in a country like Pakistan.
I still believe in Musharraf. Yes he has made mistakes but he is a good human unlike politicians.
Do we really need Impeachment or Resignation?
Will Laurel and Hardy manage to revive the country even if Musharraf is gone?
Perhaps Laurel is looking for another 10% and wants Musharraf out of his way
Pakistan’s most credible person Mr. Edhi Questioned today about the wealth of Sharif Brothers and said we all know Zardari but spoke nice about Musharraf.
Pakistani people have no clue what they are doing. They believe Zardari more than Edhi.
Abdul Wadood @
I happened to look upon your predictions e.g which is going to be the best way for musharaf to leave and the aftermath. Pakistan is the only country on the globe and Pakistani’s are the only nation about whom every prediction beyond any reasonable doubt has never ever proved to be true. This proves how versatile the Pakistani nation is.
ALHAMDOLLIAH, Pakistan has never been in a state of stability. Its a nation in continuous turmoil but a very resilient nation indeed. And this instability is not inherent in the nation, its the ruler which puts the country into spin.
Musharaf ruthlessly screwed the country, from his very first day as he and his progenies destroyed the basic institutional fabric of the country. The think tank he setup (NRB) was a sham and the local government system which was introduced as a result of tank thinking is nothing more than a looting system designed to make the provincial assemblies ineffective.
Name one district nazim in Punjab who is not corrupt to his bones. Where have trillions of rupees gone since inception of the local government system as things have gone from bad to worse.
amber@
I requested everyone to write an email to musharf imploring him to leave BUT I reckon that you have asked musharaf “laga raho munna bhai”.
Its over eight years and “aik shakal dekh ker main toh tang aa giya hoon” NEXT in line please !!