|
Should he feel the threat? Or should he pose it? Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf's predicament highlights the analysis of noted journalist Edward R. Murrow who made a classic observation of the Vietnam War: "Anyone who isn't confused doesn't really understand the situation."
The onus is on Musharraf to clarify his intentions as yet another bomb blast rocked Pakistan yesterday, dragging the country deeper into instability. The procedure of democratic elections has done nothing towards restoring stability to Pakistan and the divisionist forces sent out a chilling reminder of this in Lahore yesterday.
Musharraf has now invited the coalition to form the government on March 17, even as the Pakistan Peoples Party and the PML-N are ironing out the formalities of the post of prime minister and who should get it. While one school of thought presumes that Musharraf could be playing for time, following an agreement to reinstate the judiciary sacked by him, including the return of his nemesis Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry, and the apparent neutrality of the Army, another opines that the post of prime minister could become a sore point for the PPP and the PML-N.
It appears that a fresh twist may have cropped up with PPP chairman Asif Ali Zardari hinting that an interim premier could be named for the job, till he himself enters parliament and takes over. Meanwhile, Nawaz Sharif waits on the outside - having turned down the post - a position from where he is at his strongest.
This current scenario leaves Musharraf with two choices: pose problems for Pakistan's new coalition by exploiting their differences, or accept the mandate of the people in order to restore stability. Adopting the latter choice would be sensible. Even though the mandate in the polls has been split it is still against the policies of the president.
|
