The endgame has begun in Pakistani politics. The military’s statement today criticising the government of constitutional impropriety and warning of “serious ramifications” and “potentially grievous consequences for the country”, et al is ominous.
The PPP leadership appears to have concluded that its time is up and it is also therefore raising the ante by dismissing defence secretary Khalid Naeem Lodhi, who is a retired lieutenant-general. The blow at Lodhi is a warning to the army chief Ashfaq Kayani as well that the government isn’t blinking, and might not hesitate to sack him and the ISI chief, too, if push comes to shove.
The PPP leadership is making this an issue of Pakistan’s future as democracy and it hopes to play up the issue for gaining ’sympathy votes’ in any parliamentary elections, which now seem a matter of time. By turning the guns at the top brass, PPP leadership also hopes to distract attention from the stricture by the Supreme Court and an ensuing scruff that isn’t going to do much to the party’s image, which is already tarnished.
The PPP is badly cornered and a lifeline from Nawaz Sharif is the only hope but it is unlikely. It’s altogether a bad scene with the executive and the judiciary and the military locking horns in a 3-way tussle. The only way out seems early polls so that a new government with a fresh mandate takes over and the judiciary and the military can turn over a new leaf.
Much of the blame falls on President Asif Zardari. Put simply, he has finally fallen victim to the politicking that he endlessly spawned. Sharif was his natural ally and woe to anyone who can’t distinguish allies from foes.
The implications of the endgame are serious for Afghanistan. The US isn’t helping matters, either. The drone attacks have resumed after a gap of some 8 weeks. The US seems to estimate that the rupture in US-Pak ties cannot be repaired in the short term in any case and, therefore, the business of war must go on. Fortunately, India-Pakistan relations are free of tensions.
Pakistan cannot break free unless USA allows it to be free from the umbilical cod
The PPP has sensed the end is near and wants to go down as a martyr of democracy. In any case they have not achieved much and this is their best option.
Pakistan and india, both are trying to outdo each other in licking uncle Sam’s feet. As a result of this Pakistan is going bankrupt now in all aspects. Manmohan seems so eager to catch up with its foolish neighbor. Cry my country.
it is high time Pakistan is dismantled and divided into many parts or merged with china or india .this muslim country can not rule properly by themselves and reaming as a throne to all its neighbour
PAKISTAN HAS HANDELED ALL THEIR ENDGAMES VERY EFFECTIVLY THAN INDIA, SO WE BETTER NOT SAY ANYTHING REGARDING THAT.