President Musharraf is toiling hard - with little time and a few options left - to secure another five year term but meanwhile it looks the political equation in Pakistan is spinning around three - Musharraf, Bhutto, and Nawaj - rather than between former two. So, now the scenario in Pakistan is similar to that of a football match, wherein Sharif and Bhutto are fighting for the ball, Musharraf as a defender and US being the match referee.
This time Musharraf couldn’t secure presidency alone and needs support; therefore, PPP party with Mr. Bhutto’s political credentials is the best option available for him and even deemed propitious by US. However, with Musharraf’s duel personality, many doubts, whether he’ll stick to any alliance whatsoever.
Power flows from the barrel of the gun and Musharraf knows it well, but as of now, he realizes that judiciary will reject his election if he goes in the fray alone. Musharraf’s alone adventure can pave the way for the agitations for democracy leading the country to emergency or in the hands of Islamists and in either of the two situation Pakistan will be in trouble.
Bhutto knows well that President is in shackles and therefore, pressuring him to shed his uniform off, which will be total loss of power that he’s as a general. Will he play this game? Even the deal with Bhutto on July 27 will not be an easy job, if enacted, as there is feeling of betrayal among the supporters on both sides particularly when the popular opinion says ‘go Musharraf go‘. Ruling Pakistan Muslim League is unhappy because coming back of Bhutto will mar its prospects in the elections and PPP is unhappy for Bhutto is joining hand with the a ‘dictator’.
Musharraf with withering authority and now with Nawaj Sharif coming back to Pakistan, political chaos is imminent. And with this, Bhutto’s candidature (already served two terms and can’t go for third according to Pakistani constitution) for the prime minister is equally questionable as that of Musharraf’s for Presidency. Nawaj Sharif’s stand not to converse with the government and Constitutional change to lift ban on third term, if it happens, will benefit him, not Musharraf or Benazir, more on the expanses of their deal, particularly when the message, with the reinstatement of chief justice, goes clear - one who defies Musharraf is a national hero. As of now democratic Pakistan is a far reaching goal and how any political adventure of Musharraf while hanging his military boots will lead the situation, only time will reveal.
