Meliha Hayat
Iron ruler President Pervez Musharraf’s departure from office this week was greeted with over enthusiastic rejoicing in the streets of Pakistan.
However,despite the public's near- delirious rejoicing this decision comes as a huge blow for Pakistan, as it will open doors to a potentially debilitating power struggle within the country’s fragile ruling coalition, which was predominantly bound together by its anti- Musharraf stance.In an emotional address Mr Musharraf launched into a one-hour review of his achievements in power before he tearily announced his departure.
"I hope the nation and the people will forgive my mistakes," said Mr Musharraf. 'Pakistan First' has always been my philosophy." Nonethless, Musharraf's demise throws up a string of critical questions, including whether the ruling coalition will hold together without its common foe and whether the main parties will maintain Musharraf's close alliance with the U.S.
Musharraf's departure after nearly nine divisive years in power was widely expected after months of rising pressure for him to leave, culminating in the threat to bring impeachment charges to Parliament this week.
"There is a huge challenge ahead," said Shafqat Mahmood, a former government minister and prominent political analyst. "Now this whole Musharraf excuse is behind us. Now people are going to be focusing on their performance."
The coalition faces huge pressure from public opinion and lawyers who have protested against Musharraf for more than a year to restore the Supreme Court judges ousted when Musharraf imposed emergency rule last year.
Aside from this, the pressure to solve Pakistan’s economic instability and Taliban control will lie in the hands of elected candidate.
With so much at stake it should be questioned whether the presidential candidate for the Pakistani Peoples Party (PPP), Mr Asif Zardari is the best person to lead this nation out of such dilemmas? Should Pakistan fall in to the hands of a man once dubbed by the media as “Mr 10 Per Cent?” the thought that this man will have full control over the countries economic spending definatly raises some doubt.
And then there is Mr Nawaz Sharif who has threatened this week to leave his post if the judges ousted by former President Musharraf are not reinstated.
This decision has already become a controversial topic due to a reluctant Zardari. it has been speculated that once instated the judges may remove the laws that have allowed hin to reurn to Pakistan after years of exile.
When every party has its own agenda it’s hard to be sure whether this country will every be free from its political turmoil, but for now the real test for the next president will be to keep up Musharraf’s strong alliance with the U.S as well as restoring economic and political stability back in to the country.
But after all that has happened, it will be difficult for Pakistan to find the silver lining lining on this dark cloud. With only 30 days until the elections the real political rat race has just begun.
See also: http://www.the-latest.com/an-alliance-broken-in-preparation-for-upcoming-elections [0]
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