Pakistan Suffers Musharraf’s Emergency
Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf dealt a fatal blow to the legitimacy of his government Saturday by declaring a state of emergency and suspending the constitution. Outlawed is anything disrespectful to the head of state, the military, the judiciary or the legislature. Reports showing terrorist acts or their victims by the media has been banned as well as any statements by Islamic militants. The United States and other Western Democracies have repeatedly warned Musharraf against such desperate acts taken to bolster his beleaguered regime.
Musharraf came to power in October of 1999 in a bloodless coup when the democratically elected Prime Minister, Nawaz Sharif, tried to remove [then General] Musharraf as Army Chief of Staff. Musharraf appointed himself Chief Executive assuming a wide range of powers. He would formally appoint himself President of Pakistan in June of 2001. After years of political struggles with the judiciary and legislature, and broken promises regarding his tenure, Musharraf would assemble a coalition that passed a bill in late 2004 allowing him to retain both the Presidency [extended to 2007] and his position of Army Chief of Staff.
Besides facing escalating conflict with the radical Islamic elements, including the Taliban and al Qaeda, and political pressure that has escalated since the return of Benazir Bhutto on October 18th, Saturday’s declaration occurs just days before the Supreme was due to decide whether his re-election on Oct. 6 was valid. Musharraf has also come under extreme pressure from some elements of Pakistani society for his cooperation with the United States in the fight against international terrorism. In light of his past indiscretions against Pakistan’s institutions, this latest action puts Musharraf on a path from which there is seemingly no strategic retreat. But he has surprised many critic before with his resiliency.
Recent acts that have caused the greatest unrest in Pakistan stem for Musharraf’s suspension of Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry in March, accusing him of abuse of office. The action sparked protests by lawyers who began boycotting court procedures. Since Saturday’s declaration the government has detained hundreds of protesting lawyers and opposition politicians. Thousands have taken to the streets in protest across the country.
Responding to international and public pressure, Musharraf stated today
“I am determined to execute this third stage of transition fully and I’m determined to remove my uniform once we correct these pillars in judiciary and the executive and the parliament.”
Pakistan’s Attorney General, Malik Abdul Qayyum, added
“It has been decided there would be no delay in the election and by November 15, these assemblies (national and provincial) will be dissolved and elections will be held within the next 60 days.”
U.S. Secrtatary of State, Condoleezza Rice, encouraged Musharraf to return to constitutional rule and hold elections slated for mid January of next year. She also stated he should relinquish his position as Army Chief of Staff stating
“President Musharraf has said that he will take off his uniform. That would be an important step.”
The U.S. and Britain are now in the process of reviewing their aid packages to Pakistan. The U.S. has given mostly military aid amounting to some $10.5 billion since 2001, a step that puts the American efforts to combat terrorists in the region in a precarious position.
The Bush administration considers Pakistan an important ally in the war on terror. In contrast, Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai has accused Musharraf of tolerating Taliban and al Qaeda forces in Pakistan’s border regions that launch attacks against Afghan and Coalition forces in Afghanistan. The contributions from the U.S. may do more to stabilize the current government than fight terror in a culture with a history of pervasive corruption. None the less, the importance of maintaining stability in this strategically located nation, separating Afghanistan and Iran, cannot be overstated considering it is the only Muslim nation with a nuclear arsenal.
Prior to Musharraf’s assent to power Pakistan was on the brink of bankruptcy. Under the Sharif government a nuclear device was tested in 1998 which quickly brought economic sanctions from the U.S. and NATO nations. After the coup Musharraf committed Pakistan to the War on Terror and all international sanctions were promptly lifted. Through a series of economic reforms and accommodations by the international financial community the per capita income of Pakistan has doubled. Whether this will be enough to overcome his increasingly negative public perception when and if elections are held in January will be made more clear by his actions in the coming weeks. [ro_18]