After months of going back and forth, the Pakistani ruling coalition has began its crucial session and seem to be getting ready to impeach Gen. Musharraf for alleged misconduct, violation of the Constitution and financial irregularities and any other charges they can tack on to ensure that he is voted out. Although Musharraf has vowed to slug it out in parliament, he is expected to step down voluntarily as there are rumors of secret negotiations to give him immunity from prosecution if he does so.
The government has been mulling this move for months as Zardari and Sharif have been at loggerheads as to how to proceed with the impeachment process. Zardari’s and Sharif’s cooperation is purely driven by political missteps on both sides. PPP has historically been anti-army and once Zardari decided to work with the general at America’s urging, he immediately drew criticism. Sharif seized the opportunity and took an anti-American stance and boosted his popularity at home. The only thing they have in common is the mutual hatred they share for the general. Musharraf threw Sharif out of the country in 1999 and imprisoned Zardari for 6 years before letting him leave the country in exile. So they both have come together now realizing the only way both can survive is by ousting Musharraf first before they can get into the boxing ring to fight each other. The general for his part did not help himself by starting a war in his own backyard by asking the military to kill his own countrymen. This has made him so unpopular that Washington has decided to step back realizing that they cannot support him anymore for the risk of alienating the democratically elected government. At least a working relationship with the new government would be better and is necessarry for the US considering bin laden is probably holed up somewhere on the borders of Pakistan.
The impeachment is a numbers game. Both houses of the Pakistan’s parliament have a combined strength of 442, and the motion will have to be passed by a two-thirds majority or 295 members. The coalition claims to have enough numbers but the result will depend on the independents who could be swayed by the ISI. Though the army chief is Musharraf’s handpicked successor, it is unlikely he will intervene as he too has realized that any army intervention will only make Zardari and Sharif stronger.
At this point, it looks like Musharraf will be packing his bags and heading out of Pakistan...for good!!! The US may try to ensure he gets out of the country without facing any treason charges. Incidentally, the impeachment proceedings against Musharraf have been initiated on his birthday.
I am sure Bush must be saying Hasta La Vista…Baby!!! Or at least thinking of it.
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