Adil Najam
UPDATE: Gen. Musharraf has just announced his resignantion during a nationally televised address. Read more here.
ORIGINAL POST:
Gen. Pervez Musharraf is slated to the address the nation in a televised address at 1PM PST today (Monday, August 18, 2008). Leading newspapers, such as The News and Dawn, are reporting that he is likely to announce his resignation and TV News channels are doing the same; indeed some have started running film summaries of his tenure as President as if his departure is already a done deal.
It may well be so. But given that this is Pakistan and this is Gen. Pervez Musharraf, one must never rule out the likelihood of surprises.
According to Dawn:
President Pervez Musharraf is to address the nation on Monday afternoon, his spokesman told AFP, while dismissing rumours that he had resigned to avoid impeachment. “The president will address the nation at 01:00pm (0700 GMT),†said retired Major General Rashid Qureshi, the chief presidential spokesman. Asked about local television reports that Musharraf had already resigned in the face of attempts by the governing coalition to impeach him, the spokesman replied, “It is all nonsense.†Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi said it appeared that Musharraf had “seen the writing on the wall†but did not say if he knew what the president was planning to announce. “He is a wise man, he is a very experienced man and he has seen the writing on the wall,†Qureshi told Dawn News television when asked if he had confirmation that Musharraf had resigned. “He has seen the sentiments of not just the elected representatives, but various institutions… who all asked him to move in a particular way and do not destabilize things here,†he said. Pakistan People’s Party spokesman Farhatullah Babar said: “His political fate has been sealed. Whatever he says doesn’t matter.â€
[Strong] speculation is that Gen. Musharraf will use this speech to resign from the office of President, that a ‘deal’ has already been reached – which includes three elements: (a) that he resigns and no formal impeachment is carried out, (b) that he is given a broad amnesty against legal action against him, and (c) he is provided some form of ‘safe passage.’
My own sense is that if he does make the planned speech he will use it to describe, defend and detail what he considers to be the “achievements” of his tenure as President. While a formal “charge sheet” against him may never be tabled in Parliament, he will use this speech to answer the charges that have been and are being made against him. Expect, then, a speech that lists what he things he has achieved and responds to the lists of what his distractors say he has failed to do. This he will certainly do.
At the end of all this (a) he could say that although he has done his very best and beyond, in the interest of the country he will leave the office of the President so that the opposition to his person does not impede national progress; or (b) he could say that since he is proud of what he has achieved he will, like a good commando, fight to the very end because that is what is in the interest of the country. No matter which course he chooses, this will be one of the most important (if not the most important) speech of his life.
Given the way things stand right now it is more likely than not that he will take something akin to the first course. But even if he does not, it is quite clear that he is on his way out. If not today, then soon. If not through impeachment, then through resignation.
The question uppermost on most Pakistani minds is no longer whether Gen. Pervez Musharraf is on his way out. It is, what will happen to Pakistan after he leaves? Will everything become perfectly good once he is gone? Will things become not perfect but better? Will things becomes even worse? What do you think?
AMINPANAWALA @
are you a maulvi or what ? Keep it up man. True you are Pakistan is surviving because of ideologies and theologies besides other factors. BUT one thing which I agree with you that Pakistan has been created to survive and INSHALLAH it will, let there be no doubt in any one’s mind.
Rafay Kashmiri @
What are you talking !!!
Sharif has been looted ? Come on man ! you saw him coming to Zardari’s residence. The way he came in a black Mercedes,does it show that Sharif has gone poor.
Every one is yapping about taking Musharaf to the court. WHY ? First take Nawaz Sharif to the court. Where is the money which the nation gave him when he raised the slogan “karz utaro mulk sanwaro” I remember women gave their ornaments in this phony drive. Why was Chief justice Sajjad Ali Shah bent upon hearing corruption charges against Nawaz Sharif? Because Nawaz Sharif is brainless corrupt idiot. Now nawaz sharif has become very sincere to the cause of restoration of judiciary. Is he the same GUNDA who asked Altaf Gohar to tell him how he can put the Chief Justice of Pakistan Sajjad Ali Shah behind the bars for atleast one night. (sharam karo) . It was his party who ransacked the Supreme Court of Pakistan (PML-N). are we forgetting the past or are we nuts.
What happened to the TAXI SCHEME. Nawaz got the highest kickbacks in the Islamabad Highway project from the Korean company. Can he refute these allegations.
(a headless idiot who starts weeping in front of generals) .
What damages are Sharif’s right ? which he can demand from the court.
And then we have another “RANGEELA” in the political scenario. Asif Zardari. A newly born politician. Oh yes he is the most master minded culprit who can tie a bomb to your leg or mine if he comes to know that we have money. We all think that he was really in prison for all those years when he was never in his cell at night and was attending parties with generals.
Its the same Zardari who converted the Prime minister house in Islamabad a money laundering “adda”.
Do we think that all those allegations against Zardari’s and Bhutto’s for making countless fortunes abroad, in swiss banks, purchasing palaces in Britain were wrong, how innocent and stupid we are. If zardari has been pardoned by the courts of Pakistan this hardly mean that he has been absolved of his crimes and looting Pakistan.
Oh yes we are really stupid. Bilawal Zardari Bhutto is the leader of Pakistan. Is this Pakistan another “Jagir” of Bhutto’s. I think it is.
Last but not the least, post Musharaf era is going to be a real pain in the **s for these “JOKERS” on the political scene and for PAKISTANI’s at large unless and until we open our eyes and speak for our selves as to what we want.
@Asif,
absolutely wrong, nothing of the sort, fabrications,
on the contrary Musharraf has Looted Shareef’s family,
ruined them, THEY ARE STILL SUFFERING FROM THE
LOSSES. SHAREEFS HAVE THE RIGHT TO DEMAND DEMAGES FROM THE COURTS.
Musharraf left behind his zurriats, Baqiats
PML-Qulfi,
the freeedom of press,
“vibrant media”
more than 50 free channels.
” Jaisi ma’n, wessi bettians. ”
He also left behind a legacy for which he should be
judged all his life i.e. Dr AAFIA HER THREE CHILDREN,
AND 780 MORE PAKISTANIS WHOM HE SOLD AGAINST
PAYMENTS MADE TO HIS SONS . THIS IS A BLATANT BEGHAIRATI.
Rafay Kashmiri
I think it is clear that thins will be unstable for a while. But that is OK. After 9 years of military rule they have to be unstable for a while. But things would have been worse if Musharrf has stayed.
Glad that democracy and people’s will won out at the end.
PAKISTAN ZINDABAD.
Musharraf is not important, nor is Zardari or Sharif. Pakistan is important.
Pakistan was saved by removing Musharraf.
Pakistan Zindabad.
lida writes shows that it has been observed from media to form opinion based on Materialism,we people ,pakistanis believe in faith,spritualism,miracles.we are facing crisis since our inception.our prophet S,A.W. faced difficulties,but truth prevailed.we have been gifted pakistan by Almighty Allah,creater,for which we have struggled and demanded in tne name and ideology of Islam.Please read authentic books on pakstan and Islam.pakistan movement ,Quran,Ahadis/Bukari- .please do no trust on propeganda against truth.what ever happening in pakistan is our trial to make us true muslim.From the day pakistan created we are facing crisis but truth will Inshaallah prevail soon.Our Rehbar/Rehnuma is our Mehboob Nabi Nak S.A.W.Departure of MUSSARAF will make no difference .our quide departed soon after independence.we believe in Ideology