The president must recognise that Pakistan cannot afford more instability. Going gracefully, will, at least, bring him some respect. Hassan Abbas in The Guardian:
Pervez Musharraf of Pakistan stands virtually alone today while facing the most serious challenge to his presidency: possible impeachment by the new democratically-elected government.
The potential charges are serious: conspiring to destabilise the government that was elected last February, unlawfully removing the country’s top judges in November 2007, and failing to provide adequate security to Benazir Bhutto before her assassination last December. Allying himself with the Bush administration has increased his unpopularity, especially following missile attacks by the US in Pakistan’s tribal areas.
Despite earlier differences over how to deal with Musharraf, Pakistan’s leading political parties are now united against him. Feuding between the Pakistan People’s party, led by Bhutto’s widower, Asif Ali Zardari, and the Pakistan Muslim League (N), led by Nawaz Sharif, the former prime minister, had given Musharraf a chance to regain some standing after his allies were defeated in the February elections. American reluctance to abandon Musharraf – together with prolonged electricity shortages, which made the new government appear incompetent – also raised his hopes.
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