Editorial
Sad day for Pakistan
Musharraf's obsession with power spells danger
In a highly complicated politico-military scenario in Pakistan with judicial activism playing a conscientious role and Ms Bhutto's homecoming briefly bolstering democratic aspirations, Musharraf has proclaimed emergency by one fell stroke. In Pakistan's chequered history, this is perhaps one of the worst uncertain phase it has had the misfortune of dealing with now.
Musharraf's 's unquenchable thirst for power topped off by desperation for self-survival has had him issue a provisional constitutional order whereby he has replaced Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry with Justice Hameed Gogar "who has a corruption reference against him." The Supreme Court was to issue a ruling on the validity of the October 6 presidential election he had participated in with army uniform and won. It is thought to be a preemptive strike by Musharraf, but given his weakening popularity and unabashed clinging to power his latest action is likely to recoil on him.
The January general election is clearly thrown in doubt and any possibility of a power sharing deal with Ms Bhutto which had the blessings of the US and UK seems far removed at this point. In any case imposition of emergency is a major setback to the democratic aspirations of the people of Pakistan who have now to actually see them caught in a vortex of violence, conflict and confrontation. The reasons being touted by Musharraf for proclaiming emergency are, in his own words, "Judges were interfering with the government and that Islamic militancy posed a grave threat to the country".
This man who ruled Pakistan for nine years on the card of fighting extremism has basically failed to contain it in the ultimate analysis. There is a growing belief that an elected civilian government with a free media can be a powerful bastion against ideological terrorism. Since democracy is central to the creation of stability in the country, nuclear Pakistan cannot afford to be anything but politically stable in the greater interest of regional peace and stability.
The worldwide condemnation of Musharraf's imposition of emergency in Pakistan should be translated into strong persuasive engagements with him to lift emergency, step down and go for general election.
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