Editorial
Musharraf should put the nation before himself
Democracy is the only way out
Though Musharraf may have stalled restoration of democratic rule in Pakistan by his declaration of emergency, the chances of his getting away with it appears to be slim. The violent political turmoil, which the emergency did little to soothe, is far from being Musharraf's only concern: he is under great international pressure to withdraw the emergency and restore democracy as quickly as possible.
Not surprisingly, President Musharraf who got elected in the last presidential polls, rejected by his political rivals and the Supreme Court, now finds himself in a political quagmire from which he cannot extricate himself by applying force. Unfortunately, the imposition of emergency was nothing but a crude attempt to hang on to power when the voices of all and sundry were getting loud against his rule. His decision to muffle dissent through a crackdown has been counter-productive, as the pro-democracy elements have challenged it in a vigorous manner. Musharraf might have destroyed whatever acceptability he had by making it clear that he is not the man to opt for an honourable exit. The verdict the Supreme Court was about to deliver terming his presidential election legally and constitutionally untenable would have scuttled his plan of retaining control over the political situation. That's why he went for the preemptive action Obviously, holding election without giving up the military uniform could not make it credible. And it is this lack of credibility that has landed Musharraf in a situation where he finds more and more people, both at home and abroad, opposing him.
Musharraf is expected to weigh the price the country that he has been leading for the last eight years without popular mandate is paying for the politics of power grabbing, which has destroyed both democratic values and institutions. He might have prevailed over the country's corrupt politicians all these years, but he could never win, as he must be aware, the hearts of the people.
Finally, the greatest drawback of the policy that Musharraf has pursued so relentlessly is that he could never place the interests of his country above his own. It is perhaps the last chance for him to prove that he is capable of doing so.
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