Word: musharraf
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...democratic transfer of leadership? Unlikely. Nothing in Musharraf's actions over the past eight years indicate that he is ready to relinquish power just yet. It's just as likely that the general will turn away from messy deals with politicians and simply declare emergency rule. Doing so would allow him to maintain both his titles, and postpone elections for another year. The U.S. has already once persuaded him not to do that, citing concerns about maintaining democracy in Pakistan, but if Musharraf senses his own survival is at stake, Washington's leverage may not be enough to dissuade...
...From a U.S. perspective, the choices are grim: Musharraf's tenuous grip on power has eroded his ability to tackle terrorism and extremism, but neither Bhutto nor Sharif would necessarily be a more effective ally in Washington's war on terror. A Bhutto-Musharraf pact would probably further incense militants. Sharif has a better relationship with the religious groups who might rein in the tribal militants, but may be less inclined to do the bidding of the U.S., particularly at a time when being seen to be allied with Washington is a political liability in Pakistan...
...billboards welcoming Sharif home that already line the route from Islamabad's airport signal that Sharif no longer represents just his party, but has become yet another symbol of anti-Musharraf sentiment. Even members of Bhutto's party are planning a rally to welcome their erstwhile foe. "Sharif's return has become a referendum between democracy and dictatorship," says Ahsan Iqbal, information secretary for Sharif's Pakistan Muslim League party. "So by going to support Sharif, you are casting your vote against Musharraf...
...mobbed by hundreds of thousands of fans upon his arrival, but Sharif could yet face arrest on long-standing corruption charges. That may not neutralize the threat he represents to Musharraf. "It will further increase his stock," says Iqbal. "This threat of arrest is an indication of how insecure the government is right...
...Sharif has become the spearhead of a burgeoning anti-Musharraf movement, one that will continue to swell no matter what happens. Eight years ago Musharraf overthrew Sharif to popular acclaim. Now the man he supplanted could be the one who will be his undoing. Homecoming is always sweet. But revenge is even sweeter...