Monday, August 18, 2008

Pakistan's President Parvez Musharraf resigns


By Manuwant Choudhary

Pakistan's dictator finally bows to the will of the people and in a televised address to the nation resigns as President saying his resignation will be sent to the Speaker of the Pakistan National Assembly.
He resigns just before the impeachment motion was to be begin on Tuesday.
The President said he worked honestly for Pakistan and when he leaves office he does not expect anything and it is for the people to judge the charges against him.
General Musharraf says at this stage he does not want any confrontation and the economy of Pakistan has always been his primary concern and he took up the reigns to power when Pakistan was on the verge of being declared a `failed' state.
Of course, the General says the charges against him are baseless and will not stand.
Its however not clear whether another `deal' has been worked out for Musharraf considering he has been the US's `strongest' ally against its war on terror.
Pakistan People's Party's (PPP) chief Asif Ali Zardari of course hopes the General will retire and play golf quietly.
But knowing the General this may not be.
Pakistan's terror record has worsened since the elections in Pakistan, with even Benazir having been killed.
From the Afghan government to even US candidates threatening to hunt down Al Qaeda in Pakistan and even Pakistan's ISI increasing its attacks on India, things are far from normal in Pakistan.
So its not unusual that Fatima Bhutto, the niece of Benazir, has attacked the `charlatans' of democracy (both Zardari and Sharief) for trying to remove a tyrant at a time when Pakistan is on the verge of civil war.
In her article in The Guardian (London) she also questions the double standards of the politicians who wish to get indemnity from all criminal charges they themselves face while they want only the General to be charged with murdering his own people.

No comments: