Writing on the wall for Pervez Musharraf

The election of PPP candidate as prime minister of Pakistan is another signal to Pervez MusharrafPervez Musharraf to call it a day by resigning in dignified manner before it is too late for him. Writing on the wall for Pervez Musharraf
ISLAMABAD, March 25: The elevation of Syed Yousaf Raza Gillani of the anti-Musharraf Pakistan People's Party (PPP) as the Prime Minister of Pakistan has put the beleaguered president in another trouble following the big no to his King's party - Pakistan Muslim League Quaid (PML-Q) - by the Pakistani masses in the February 18 legislative election.
The 56-year-old Gillani bagged 264 votes in the 342-seat National Assembly of Pakistan. His rival candidate and former chief minister of Punjab province Chaudhry Pervez Elahi ended up with only 42 votes.
In his opening remarks to the Lower House of Parliament roaring with the slogans of "go Musharraf go" by supporters of political parties sitting in the guest galleries and members of the House of the three main anti-Musharraf parties - PPP, Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) and Awami National Party (ANP) - was clear signal to the former dictator that the Pakistanis, both masses and political parties, were fed up with his dictatorial polices and did not want him in the President House anymore.
After overthrown the elected government of the then premier Nawaz SharifNawaz Sharif on October 12, 1999, Pervez Musharraf declared himself as Chief Executive of the country and promised the people of Pakistan that he would restore true democracy in the nuclear-armed country within three months and the army would return to their barracks.
However, instead of relinquishing power, Pervez Musharraf continued with his extra-constitutional measures which culminated at the removal of Chief Judge of Pakistan Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry on March 9, 2007.
The move, apparently taken to strengthen and continue his grip over power in Pakistan, backlashed in an unexpected manner and the lawyer community, political parties and the civil society in Pakistan came out with a hard reaction against the dictator Pervez Musharraf.
In a desperate move, Pervez Musharraf declared emergency in Pakistan on November 3, 2008 just to save his skin and get rid of those judges who were going to declare him and his amendments to the constitution of Pakistan as illegal.
However, the move, instead of saving him, further increased his woes and draw more reaction from the society and the lawyer community who were joined by almost all the political parties. This was the time that marked the downward journey of the dictator to reached the zenith of popularity in 1999 in Pakistan and attracted appreciation from the international community after announcing the country's unconditional support for the US-war on terrorism in Afghanistan in late 2001.
While the March 24 session of the Pakistan's National Assembly was conspicuous from so many perspectives, the most prominent was the announcement of the newly-elected premier regarding the immediate release of nearly 60 judges, who were kept under house arrest by the Musharraf regime since March 3.
Their fault, according to eminent lawyer Chaudhry Itezaz Hassan, was that they turned down Pervez Musharraf's orders to take oath under his Provisional Constitution Order or PCO, the legality of which was questioned by almost all the Pakistan lawyers.
Now, that Pakistan has got an elected prime minister and is going to get an elected cabinet in the coming few days, analysts believe the time is ripe for Pervez Musharraf to step down and let the parliament elect a president as well.
As Pervez Musharraf is going to take oath of office from the elected Premier Yousaf Raza Gillani, sources said he might quit the office of the president before administering the oath ceremony. However, are no such indication has been given from the presidential camp so far.
However, the live telecast by several independent Pakistani news channels and the expert taking part in talk shows clearly indicated that the Pakistani president was left with no choice but resign.
During a dialogue on "Democracy - The Challenges Ahead" organised by Shaheed Bhutto Foundation (SBF) the other night here, eminent scholars, analysts and leaders of mainstream political parties were unanimous in their opinion that "Pervez Musharraf has to call it a day and let the elected representatives took the reign of the country."
However, then there were some differences also and that were what would be the fate of Pervez Musharraf after quitting as president. One leading speaker and former interior minister Naseerullah Khan Babar was of the opinion that that "he must be tried for what he had done to the country and to the constitution."
Another speaker and chief of Awami National Party NWFP Afrasiab Khattak said that Musharraf has abrogated the constitution. An abrogation of the constitution is a serious crime and no one responsible for such a crime should be left without being punished.
In light of the above discussion, it is not difficult to pin point that what is the general mood of the Pakistani masses vis-à-vis Pervez Musharraf. "He had to go, tomorrow, if not today, and he had to be punished for what he had done to the country and to the constitution of the country," said a parliamentarian, whose party is ally of the ruling PPP.
"It is better for him to read the writing on the wall before time is over," he added.
Following is the brief profile of the new Pakistani prime minister:
Belonging to a spiritual family of Multan city in Punjab province of Pakistan, Syed Yousaf Raza Gillani was born on June 9, 1952. The city where he opened his eyes is also known as the abode of saints and Sufis.
Gillani recieved his early education in Multan. He graduated in 1970 and had done his Master in Journalist from University of Punjab in 1976. Gillani is married with four sons and a daughter.
He started his political journey in 1978 by joining the Pakistan Muslim League party. He served as Minister of Housing and Works from April 1985 to January 1986 and Railways Minister from January 1986 to December 1986.
Gillani left Muslim League and become part of the Pakistan People's Party in 1988 after the return of Benazir BhuttoBenazir Bhutto to Pakistan and the dead of Gen. Ziaul Haq in an air crash. He was appointed as cabinet minister during the first government of Benazir Bhutto from 1988 till 1999. In the second governor of late Benazir Bhutto from 1993-1996, Gillani served as Speaker of the National Assembly.
Gillani was arrested by the National Accountability Burea, the institution formed to curb corruption in Pakistan, on February 11, 2001 on charges of misuse of authority and losses to the national exchequer.
Ironically, he remained in jail for four years after convicted by an anti-corruption court formed by Pervez Musharraf. However, now he has become the prime minister of the country which is led by the same Pervez Musharraf as President.
ENDS