The climb down by Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari on the reinstatement of Supreme Court Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry and other judges followed by the call by PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif is a victory of democracy and the people of Pakistan. It is a big blow for Pervez Musharraf who seemed to be quite enthused by the simmering political crisis and so told the media that he was ready to become a “useful” president. Obviously, he saw the possibility of a takeover by the army and so thought there was a role ready for him.
This is probably the first time the Army in Pakistan has played a constructive role in keeping democracy going in that country. Army Chief General Ashfaq Pervez Kayani’s time-bound warning to President Zardari to resolve the political crisis has had the desired effect. Various reports suggested that he was cautioned by the US against a takeover by the army. Now, Zardari and Nawaz Sharif should come together to set Pakistan’s house in order and to demolish the dreaded terrorist network on Pakistan’s soil — this is not just a threat to the world, it is a big threat to Pakistan as well.
M C Joshi, Lucknow
