Musharraf's Woes Go Deep

**CHUQ** · Agitator Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts votes: 3

The Pak. Pres is up to hos butt in opposition. Does not fair well for him.

SLAMABAD, Pakistan - The party of exiled former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif ruled out reconciliation with Pakistan's embattled military leader Friday, a day after a court said he can return home before upcoming elections.

On another front threatening the future of President Gen. Pervez Musharraf, the army said 60 soldiers and 250 militants had died in a month of bloody fighting near the Afghan border.

And Benazir Bhutto, another banished former prime minister itching for a comeback, suggested talks had stalled on a power-sharing deal for Musharraf to stay on as a civilian president. "We haven't reached an agreement yet, so I'm not in a position to tell you where the negotiations are heading," she told Dawn News television.

LINK

**Tumbleweed** · Admin Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts votes: 4

I don't see how he can fend off all the opposition. At this point, it's just a matter of who replaces him. IMO.

**CHUQ** · Agitator Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts votes: 3

The fun part will be the power sharing deal, US is pushing this and the players Sharif, Bhutto and Musharraf all hate each other. IMO, the real problems have not begun yet. If the US keeps pushing we will see a huge problem develope.

**CHUQ** · Agitator Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts votes: 3

The media seems to be pushing Bhutto for the spot in Pakistan's government. Smirk!

Even in a country with a history of fierce political rivals coming together for their own survival, the idea of a union between Pakistan's President Pervez Musharraf and exiled former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto seems preposterous. After all, they hate each other with an undisguised passion. She has a phobia about military dictators--her politician father was executed by one--and has described General Musharraf as an incompetent ruler who indulges in "puerile brinkmanship." In his view, she and Nawaz Sharif, another former Prime Minister, epitomize the weak, deeply corrupt democracy he overthrew in a bloodless 1999 coup. Just the mention of their names can spoil his mood; Musharraf once told a television interviewer that he would like to "kick them."

SOURCE

**CHUQ** · Agitator Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts votes: 3

Bhutto is using the media to her benefit. She is good!

KARACHI • Former prime minister and self-exiled chairperson of Pakistan People’s Party Benazir Bhutto has reiterated that her party will not accept a president in uniform and will continue to work for transition towards a democratic dispensation in the country.

She also spoke of her intention to return to Pakistan to campaign for her party and join other moderate political parties "to try and bring about a transition".

In an interview with Dawn News TV channel yesterday, Bhutto said a president in uniform blurred the distinction between democracy and dictatorship, adding that "the PPP would find it very hard to reconcile with that and we will not do so."

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**Tumbleweed** · Admin Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts votes: 4

Bhutto has been using the media to her advantage since leaving the country. She knows what song to sing when she has a microphone in her face. How much of her speeches are truth and how much is spin is anyones guess.

**CHUQ** · Agitator Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts votes: 3

Bhutto has always been more popular outside the country than within. The world loves to see a woman succeed, but alot of people forget whhen she was PM is promised all these steps forward for women and she never proposed one of the programs. And her husband was called Mr. 10 percent, because no major business transaction took place in Pakistan without his OK and his 10% commission. Just few things that would lead me to suspect her of just wnating power.

**CHUQ** · Agitator Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts votes: 3

Here is a suggestion from an op-ed piece.

THE Pakistan Supreme Court has again flexed its judicial muscles and, in a stunning setback to President Pervez Musharraf, allowed Nawaz Sharif, the former prime minister, and his brother to return to Pakistan from forced exile. In 1999, General Musharraf deposed the civilian government and sent the Sharif brothers to Saudi Arabia.

Though army's intervention in the democratic process was a blatant interference, the people, tired of an incompetent and corrupt government, welcomed the change. General Musharraf for his part brought a measure of competence and integrity to governing and an unprecedented freedom of the press. He also improved relations with traditional rival India.

For an absolute dictator, however, he has been cautious, perhaps too cautious, in regard to taking on the rising tide of religious fanaticism that has been eroding the very fabric of Pakistani civil society.

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**CHUQ** · Agitator Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts votes: 3

I wish everybody could see the dangers here. This story is just the beginning and someone will die over this stuff and the US will be ass deep in the situation.

President Pervez Musharraf of Pakistan has agreed to resign as army chief in a power-sharing deal with Benazir Bhutto, the exiled former prime minister claimed yesterday.

He had previously insisted that he would remain army chief while standing for re-election as president. But a deepening political crisis appears to have forced the general, a key ally in the US-led war on -terror, to compromise.

After months of secretive political horse-trading Ms Bhutto, who has consistently claimed that she would not strike a deal with Gen Musharraf unless he stepped down as army chief, told The Daily Telegraph yesterday that the "uniform issue is resolved".

STORY

**CHUQ** · Agitator Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts votes: 3

Now here is another story on the sharing of power. Again I wish people would realize that this is the next big prob for the US.

ISLAMABAD: The constitutional cover required for the anticipated President Pervez Musharraf-Benazir Bhutto deal may be difficult, if not impossible, to achieve from parliament, given the ground realities.

A major cause of concern for some government leaders is how to garner the mandatory two-third majority in both the Houses of parliament, needed to carry through the constitutional amendment that is being vigorously talked about these days.

But the mother of all intricacies will be the likely scrutiny of the amendment by the Supreme Court where it will certainly be challenged, amid highly polarised politics, after its parliamentary passage. Almost all the constitutional amendments made in the recent history of Pakistan were called into question in the apex court.

The amendment, it is being stated, will contain the consensual points, agreed by the two sides during their intense secret talks in London. Benazir has given the deadline of August 31 to the government to respond to her demands.

STORY

**Tumbleweed** · Admin Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts votes: 4

They have been complaining about how little Musharraf was helping with the war on terror so we will see just how much a new leader will help. They may regret not supporting him more. IMO.

**CHUQ** · Agitator Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts votes: 3

Another Musharraf opponent set to return to Pakistan. But I question his sanity, announcing a return date to a man who trieds to kill him years ago.

Pakistan's exiled former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif will return home on 10 September to challenge President General Pervez Musharraf, he says.

Mr Sharif, deposed by Gen Musharraf in 1999, was speaking in London a week after Pakistan's top court defied the government to rule his return legal.

His announcement comes as former PM Benazir Bhutto claims she is nearing a deal to share power with Gen Musharraf.

Correspondents have said Mr Sharif could still face jail if he goes home.

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**CHUQ** · Agitator Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts votes: 3

Would it be a three way power sharing deal?

Nawaz Sharif, declaring that he is determined to remove General Pervez Musharraf, has brushed aside fears that he faces jail if he returns to Pakistan. He has also set up a three-way struggle for leadership of the country that looks likely to reach a conclusion this month.

The former prime minister, who was deposed, briefly jailed and exiled by General Musharraf in a bloodless coup in 1999, said he was unafraid of the regime's threats to arrest him on corruption charges if he returns from exile.

STORY

**Tumbleweed** · Admin Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts votes: 4

I don't see a 3 way power sharing agreement, though they may attempt to portray that image. I think there will be a power struggle myself.

**CHUQ** · Agitator Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts votes: 3

Good point and I cannot not see a two way power sharing either. Just not gonna happen for any length of time.