Ganging Up
Economist
May 18, 2006
Pakistan
Two exiled former prime ministers plot their return
THEIR enemy's enemy will never be a friend. But Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif have decided, for now at least, to bury the hatchet somewhere other than in each other's reputation. At a meeting in London on May 14th, the two exiled former prime ministers agreed to a “charter of democracy” and decided to join hands in opposing the rule of Pervez Musharraf, Pakistan's president and army chief.
The charter is designed to restore civilian rule and ensure that the army, which has regularly intervened in Pakistani politics ever since the nation's foundation in 1947, goes back to the barracks and stays there. It would reduce the powers of the president in favour of the prime minister. The two party leaders announced that they would return to Pakistan before parliamentary elections due next year. General Musharraf has made clear that they are not welcome. On May 16th, he thundered that “rejected” and “corrupt” politicians had no future in Pakistan.
At the very least, their return will present General Musharraf with a public-relations difficulty. He might deport Mr Sharif, whom he deposed in a bloodless coup in 1999 and exiled to Saudi Arabia in 2000. Miss Bhutto risks arrest in Pakistan on corruption charges. But the general professes faith in democracy, which may make it awkward to lock out or lock up the leaders of Pakistan's two biggest mainstream parties just before an election.
The commitment to democracy, however, has its limits. General Musharraf is already engaged in manoeuvres aimed at extending his rule beyond his five-year presidential term that expires next year. He may be intending to retain his army uniform as well. In the previous elections, in 2002, the army arranged a vote that produced a manageable National Assembly, and would hope to do so again. Miss Bhutto's People's Party and Mr Sharif's wing of the Muslim League say they will contest the elections only under a neutral caretaker government. Mr Sharif wanted the People's Party to announce a joint struggle and electoral alliance. Miss Bhutto refused, prompting accusations that she was in secret touch with the army. A charter of democracy perhaps, but not of trust.
Copyright © 2006 The Economist Newspaper and The Economist Group. All rights reserved.
May 18, 2006
Pakistan
Two exiled former prime ministers plot their return
THEIR enemy's enemy will never be a friend. But Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif have decided, for now at least, to bury the hatchet somewhere other than in each other's reputation. At a meeting in London on May 14th, the two exiled former prime ministers agreed to a “charter of democracy” and decided to join hands in opposing the rule of Pervez Musharraf, Pakistan's president and army chief.
The charter is designed to restore civilian rule and ensure that the army, which has regularly intervened in Pakistani politics ever since the nation's foundation in 1947, goes back to the barracks and stays there. It would reduce the powers of the president in favour of the prime minister. The two party leaders announced that they would return to Pakistan before parliamentary elections due next year. General Musharraf has made clear that they are not welcome. On May 16th, he thundered that “rejected” and “corrupt” politicians had no future in Pakistan.
At the very least, their return will present General Musharraf with a public-relations difficulty. He might deport Mr Sharif, whom he deposed in a bloodless coup in 1999 and exiled to Saudi Arabia in 2000. Miss Bhutto risks arrest in Pakistan on corruption charges. But the general professes faith in democracy, which may make it awkward to lock out or lock up the leaders of Pakistan's two biggest mainstream parties just before an election.
The commitment to democracy, however, has its limits. General Musharraf is already engaged in manoeuvres aimed at extending his rule beyond his five-year presidential term that expires next year. He may be intending to retain his army uniform as well. In the previous elections, in 2002, the army arranged a vote that produced a manageable National Assembly, and would hope to do so again. Miss Bhutto's People's Party and Mr Sharif's wing of the Muslim League say they will contest the elections only under a neutral caretaker government. Mr Sharif wanted the People's Party to announce a joint struggle and electoral alliance. Miss Bhutto refused, prompting accusations that she was in secret touch with the army. A charter of democracy perhaps, but not of trust.
Copyright © 2006 The Economist Newspaper and The Economist Group. All rights reserved.
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