For the first time, Pakistan is poised for the transfer of political power from one democratically elected government to another. Forme President Pervez Musharraf has taken this opportunity to come home from his self-imposed exile. As army chief and President, he had made a mockery of democracy. But the electorate in Pakistan seems to have welcomed him without rancour. He had been forced to resign in 2008. Musharraf now takes credit for facing the risk of being on the Taliban hit list in Pakistan. He also proposes to cut through judicial hurdles to participate in the elections and save the country. Whether lack of popular anger is public support is another matter. He may have
misjudged the political situation in Pakistan and has been blind to the fact that the days of his political despotism are over as the country prepares for a political experiment. Meanwhile there has been judicial activism in Pakistan leading to the dismissal of a Prime Minister in the country. Political parties are feuding fiercely. The army is showing its muscles. But a popular government has completed its term and a caretaker government has been appointed without much difficulty.
Musharraf is probably banking on the Pakistan army’s growing clout. His rule had some good features – relative calm, political stability and economic boom. Today corruption contaminates the political ambience of Pakistan. The power situation has hit a new low . Economic crisis looms large while Musharraf had ensured a steady flow of foreign funds. The Taliban threat had not then materialized. Musharraf wants to cash in on the flux. But so do many political biggies of Pakistan. It is unlikely that Musharraf’s ex-colleagues will rally to his flag.