WSJA(8/19) Musharraf Steps Down, Avoiding A Confrontation
(From THE WALL STREET JOURNAL ASIA) By Peter Wonacott and Zahid Hussain
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan -- Pakistan's president, Pervez Musharraf, under pressure from his political opponents and even some allies, said he will resign immediately, handing leadership of this volatile nuclear-armed nation to a divided government that is struggling to tackle an Islamic militancy and a sharp economic downturn.
Mr. Musharraf's resignation, announced in a national television address Monday, marks a victory for the governing coalition of his political opponents that was preparing to impeach him. Yet it also deprives the government of its scapegoat for the country's woes, leaving the coalition to deliver on the promise of better governance in a new democratic era that Mr. Musharraf helped usher in with parliamentary elections in February.
The 65-year-old former army chief came to power in a bloodless coup in 1999 by deposing a civilian government led by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif that was criticized as autocratic and corrupt. Mr. Musharraf's administration enjoyed wide backing in the beginning and was helped by surging economic growth and more than $10 billion in U.S. aid following the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
But his recent moves to quash dissent only emboldened it. Over the past 18 months, he dismissed unfriendly judges, declared emergency rule and rammed through his own re-election for another five-year term as president. The media he helped to liberalize broadcast shows challenging his rule that appealed to a new, politically concerned middle class. Staunch support gave way to months of street protests, led by lawyers, journalists and other liberals who wanted democracy rather than military-backed rule. When Mr. Musharraf agreed to hold parliamentary elections in February, his opponents were swept into power.
His resignation announcement set off jubilant gunfire in Pakistan's commercial capital of Karachi. Crowds also gathered to celebrate in the Pakistani cities of Islamabad and Lahore.
Mr. Musharraf's resignation capped days of secret talks that involved the army as well as Pakistan's key allies, Saudi Arabia and the U.S. In return for stepping down, Mr. Musharraf -- a target of multiple assassination attempts -- received assurances that he would be given full protection by the army, according to a senior government official.
Just after the resignation was announced, a huge contingent of army troops was deployed around his official residence in Rawalpindi, an army garrison town near Islamabad, the capital. Mr. Musharraf's associates say he is expected to stay for an unspecified period in Rawalpindi, effectively under the army's protective custody, until he shifts to a private residence in Islamabad.
A U.S. embassy spokesman declined to comment on any talks involving the U.S. and Pakistani officials. In a statement, U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice expressed support for Pakistan's civilian government 'in its desire to modernize Pakistan and build democratic institutions.' The statement also called Mr. Musharraf 'a friend to the United States and one of the world's most committed partners in the war against terrorism and extremism.'
What exactly happens to Mr. Musharraf in the future remains unclear. His representatives have argued for immunity from prosecution. And Asif Ali Zardari, leader of the Pakistan People's Party, the senior coalition partner, has agreed in principle to amnesty, according to a senior PPP official. But Mr. Zardari wants the ex-president to leave Pakistan, rather than loom over the new government.
It also is uncertain whether the junior coalition partner, the Pakistan Muslim League (N), led by former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, will agree to such a deal. Mr. Sharif is expected to push for charging Mr. Musharraf with crimes while in office. 'We have to allow for the law to take its course,' said Ahsan Iqbal, a spokesman for Mr. Sharif's party. A final decision on Mr. Musharraf's indemnity will be made in a meeting between Messrs. Zardari and Sharif.
Even with Mr. Musharraf gone, the governing coalition faces a host of contentious issues. The first major test comes with the approach of a self-imposed 72-hour deadline for reinstating judges Mr. Musharraf dismissed late last year, including Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammed Chaudhry. Mr. Zardari, widower of slain former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, and Mr. Sharif appear divided on the reinstatement. Mr. Zardari has publicly opposed Mr. Chaudhry's restoration saying the former chief justice had refused him bail while Mr. Zardari was in jail facing corruption charges. Mr. Zardari is also concerned that the chief justice might reopen those corruption cases, which were dropped in a deal last year, signed by Mr. Musharraf, that allowed Mr. Zardari and Ms. Bhutto to return to Pakistan from self-imposed exile.
The other immediate problem is who will replace Mr. Musharraf as president.
Mr. Zardari would be a controversial candidate given the corruption charges he faced in the past, although he denies any wrongdoing. His candidacy may not be acceptable to Mr. Sharif or the military, which remains the most powerful institution in Pakistan.
The governing coalition has been unsuccessful so far beating back a resurgent Islamic militancy, which has spilled into towns and cities from the country's tribal areas on the border with Afghanistan. Clashes have continued in the Northwest Frontier Province, despite efforts to strike peace deals with militant leaders.
And economic turmoil has gripped Pakistan, with inflation punching a hole in the popularity of Pakistan's new government. The Pakistani rupee has sunk in value to record levels against the dollar, largely because of ballooning debt overseas. Since mid-April, about a month into the new government's period in power, the Karachi Stock Exchange benchmark index has fallen about 30%.
Mr. Musharraf's political opponents have blamed him for sabotaging economic growth. The country's economy has been hobbled by power outages and food inflation, partly as a result of underinvestment in the energy and agricultural sectors over the past several years. Pakistan's benchmark stock index jumped 4.5% on news of Mr. Musharraf's resignation, and the rupee strengthened against the dollar.
'Musharraf's resignation eliminates the political uncertainty in the markets,' said Asad Iqbal, managing director at Ismail Iqbal Securities in Karachi. 'Now the government has no excuses. Economically, they have to perform better.'
Until last year, Pakistan's economy had been one of the world's surprise success stories, as it defied political turbulence to keep growing at about 7% a year for a half decade. The telecommunications sector, real estate and the stock market all took off, partly due to record amounts of foreign investment. In his speech, Mr. Musharraf claimed credit for the economic boom and blamed the new government for the suffering that has come with high food and fuel prices. 'These problems have developed in the last six months,' Mr. Musharraf said in his address. 'People are in difficulties.' |
|
