Musharraf's dress-as-I-wish term may end soon
Sometimes he is seen in suit and tie with a friendly smile and sometimes non-smiling in military uniform. Pakistan President Gen. Pervez Musharraf's dress-as-I-wish term may come to an end soon.
He is one man who has so long managed to wear two hats quite skillfully, performing the dual role of Pakistan's president and of the head of military at the same time. Ironically, the stage has been set, partially by himself, for a role change. He must now choose one or the other.
In a desperate bid to hold on to both hats, he played his last card by declaring the state of emergency and suspending the constitution in Pakistan. But his last-ditch effort may backfire. By doing what he has done, he has taken Pakistan back to the point from where he began his military dictatorship.
And by sacking Pakistan's Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammed Chaudhry and other senior judges of the Supreme Court immediately before their ruling on his eligibility to participate in the presidential election, Musharraf proved one thing beyond anybody's doubt -- that the judges' ruling would go against him. If not, then why would he fire them?
If the ruling of Pakistan Supreme Court would have gone in his favour, Musharraf would have praised the judges and given them hugs. Instead, the judges took the punch from the general even before they were able to issue a ruling on him.
What was the fault of those respected judges? They were merely trying to assert their position and act independently. They were discharging their judicial responsibility without any fear or favour. They were upholding the dignity of Pakistan's highest court. The only thing they were not doing was taking dictation from the government.
If the judges were able to give their verdict, declaring him ineligible for participating in the presidential election while in military uniform, who would say they were wrong? Is there any civilised or democratic nation anywhere in the world that allows one man to be president and the top boss of military at the same time? The answer is no.
Musharraf understands it all too well. Yet, he gambled by keeping all powers of the state concentrated in his hands, and his hands alone. And when he failed to have his plan executed by the credible judges, he appointed a puppet judge to do the job for him. What Musharraf does not understand is that the job of a puppet judge will have no credibility and, thus, no one will recognise it.
Musharraf has another serious problem. He thinks he is the only saviour of Pakistan, and fails to understand that he is dead wrong. Pakistan was there before him. And Pakistan will be there after him as well. He needs to know one thing quite clearly, that is if Pakistan can survive even without the man who founded this nation, then why can't it do so without him?
Even his closest allies are upset at his behaviour. US President George Bush received as many as five briefings within the first 48 hours of the state of emergency in Pakistan. The reason needs no explanation. America is so much dependent on Pakistan for fighting al-Qaeda and the Taliban in Afghanistan that trouble in Pakistan means trouble for America. So, the last thing America wants to see is an unstable Pakistan.
So, the message from Washington is quite clear. Take off the uniform, hold election on schedule and restore democracy in Pakistan as quickly as possible. Friendly nations including Britain are sending similar messages as the leaders of those countries are equally disturbed by the events that unfolded in Pakistan. Many have openly threatened to review and even cut aid for the country.
Bowing to mounting international pressure, Gen. Musharraf has already promised elections by mid-February, but hasn't given any firm date for the polls. Perhaps, he is now reading the pulse of the nation and will act accordingly. He has already boxed himself, lost support of Pakistanis and annoyed important allies like the United States and Britain.
His justification for the state of emergency and suspension of Pakistan's constitution is just laughable. Even a junior school kid would love to challenge his argument that the "judiciary paralysed various organs of the state and created impediments in the fight against terrorism." In fact, Pakistan's judiciary was trying to stand up for what was right for the country.
The call on Musharraf to take off his uniform is getting louder and louder. It is coming from within Pakistan. It is coming from outside Pakistan. Today, he doesn't seem to be paying much attention. But tomorrow he will have no choice but to listen to it and finally take his uniform off. And, with that, one hat will fall but the other hat will still remain in place for a while.
Yet, that's not a bad deal for Musharraf. And the only way he can get out of the present crisis and save his face is to restore Pakistan's constitution immediately and hold elections as promised by mid-February. And for taking his country back on the road to democracy, he can score some plus points as well.
Syed Badiuzzaman is a Bangladeshi journalist based in North America.
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