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Musharraf is likely to become a powerless president or jobless. |
ISLAMABAD — With his loyalists conceding crushing election defeat, foes winning big and public support almost non-existence, embattled President Pervez Musharraf is in for very hard times.
"This is a referendum against Musharraf," Ghazi Salahuddin, a Karachi-based senior political analyst, told IslamOnline.net on Tuesday, February 19.
"People have had enough of the policies of Musharraf regime, and they have taken out their anger against them in the form of vote against King’s party."
The ruling Pakistan Muslim League (Q) has conceded defeat in Monday's general elections to elect a national parliament and four provincial assemblies.
"We accept the verdict of the nation," said Tariq Azeem, a spokesman for the party. "We officially concede defeat."
PML (Q) chief Chaudry Shujaat Hussein, the party's would-be premiership candidate Chaudry Perwaiz Ellahi lost.
With counting in from 257 constituencies, PML (Q) and its allies had taken a total of 57 seats.
Almost all of Musharraf's former cabinet, including close presidential ally Sheikh Rashid, were also defeated.
The Pakistan People's Party (PPP) of slain former premier Benazir Bhutto so far secured 85 seats and former prime minister Nawaz Sharif's Pakistan Muslim League (N) 65 seats.
Candidates are completing for 272 seats in the National Assembly, allocated on the basis of population.
Full results were not expected until late Tuesday or early Wednesday.
The vote was the final step on Pakistan's road to civilian democracy eight years after the increasingly unpopular Musharraf toppled Sharif in a military coup.
Lame-duck
Salahuddin, the analyst, believes the results leave Musharraf no more than a lame-duck.
"He already said that if his opponent parties won the elections, then he would prefer to resign. I guess he is going to face such scenario."
The experts notes it’s premature to say what would be Musharraf's fate, pending full results and negotiations on the new government.
"In my opinion, the next government, no matter what would be the composition, should provide a safe exit to Musharraf instead of any extreme step because the country cannot afford any other debacle," said Salahuddin.
"My humble opinion is that he should be removed in an enlightening way."
With a two-third majority in parliament, the opposition can take all legal actions to impeach the president.
The PPP has singled the possibility of working with Musharraf after elections while Sharif has been uncompromising in his calls for "dictator" Musharraf to step down.
Musharraf may try to split the PPP from Sharif.
Salahuddin believes that the formation of the new government will be a little complicated.
"The PML (N) is very clear that neither it will compromise on the reinstatement of the ousted judges nor would it work with Musharraf, whereas the PPP’s stand is little vague on these two issue," he notes.
Shafqat Mahmud, another senior analyst, says the PML (N) and the PPP disagree on the reinstatement of the sacked judges and the so-called war on terror.
"But I think the two parties will manage to narrow down their differences on the two core issues, and find out a viable way," he believe.
"The two parties represent the majority of the people. Therefore, it will be in the better interest of the country to form a coalition government."
He believes a national government or at least a coalition government comprising maximum political parties can steer the country out of simmering predicaments.
Salahuddin agrees and believes the two opposition parties will be able to bridge their gaps.
"Both will have to carve out a middle way to form a durable coalition government," he said, adding "the middle way in my opinion is to give a safe passage to Musharraf."
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