Word: musharraf
(lookup in dictionary)
(lookup stats)
Dates: all
Sort By: most recent first
(reverse)
...officials are counting on Musharraf to retain control over the military--Pakistan's most powerful institution--even if he gives up his uniform to keep the presidency. "The hope is that Musharraf will continue to influence policy in the war on terror as President," says the official. That may be wishful thinking. Lieut. General Hamid Gul, a former head of Pakistani intelligence, says the Americans are "naive" for thinking that Musharraf will have any clout once he steps down as military chief or that Bhutto will be able to control the army as Prime Minister. "The Pakistani army...
...Musharraf-Bhutto deal were in fact to leave both leaders discredited and weakened, then U.S. interests in Pakistan--continued help in the war against al-Qaeda, protection of the country's nuclear arsenal and the strengthening of the moderate majority against the extremist fringe--might be better served by the man both leaders despise: Sharif. The Bush Administration is skeptical. The State Department official describes Sharif as "a player with a mixed record." As Prime Minister, he had a good relationship with the Clinton Administration, allowing the U.S. in 1998 to use Pakistani airspace for missile attacks against al-Qaeda...
What Sharif does have going for him is a groundswell of public support. Unofficial polls conducted by government agencies show that even before his deportation, Sharif's numbers were climbing. Many of the groups that demonstrated across the country this summer when Musharraf tried to sack the Supreme Court justice have thrown their support behind Sharif. As a center-right politician, he also has close ties to religious parties, which would allow him to build a broad coalition. He lacks support in Washington, but as Musharraf and Bhutto continue to fade, that could--and should--change...
What's next? [President Pervez Musharraf] has fired the pistol shot for an open revolt. This will not be just a run up in the streets, but will have implications for times to come. If he thinks that he can unconstitutionally and unlawfully abduct Nawaz Sharif and send him back to Jeddah [in Saudi Arabia], well, there are very serious ramifications which we will watch unfold in the coming days and weeks. It cannot happen that he can sidestep a political contest for presidential elections by cutting a deal with Benazir Bhutto, and sideline Nawaz Sharif and other parties...
...crackdown on the welcoming rally? Yes, thousands of our workers have been arrested, their houses have been ransacked, raided during the night and the early hours of the morning. And when Nawaz Sharif was leaving for Islamabad all roads leading to the capital were totally blocked and choked. Musharraf has said that Sharif had no popular support, but if that was the case then he would have let him come openly. He knew that giving an open arrival to Nawaz Sharif would have proved how unpopular he [Musharraf] was, so he stopped it. I think that all of this together...