Pakistan Looks Ahead Without Musharraf

[Purveyor]

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan — The immediate reaction in Pakistan’s corridors of power and streets to the resignation of President Pervez Musharraf was one of optimism and opportunity.

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The governing coalition that engineered the ouster of Mr. Musharraf must now face a range of potential problems, minus the main factor that unified it: opposing him.

The two leading coalition partners, Nawaz Sharif and Asif Ali Zardari, have had a fractious relationship. Mr. Sharif is a former prime minister who was deposed by Mr. Musharraf in 1999, while Mr. Zardari is the widower of Benazir Bhutto, a former prime minister who was assassinated in December.

Mr. Zardari and Mr. Sharif will have to reach agreement on the choice for the next president. So far, there are few clues about the contenders.

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Beyond that, the coalition will now hold sole responsibility to cope with a deteriorating economy and the continued threat from a resurgent Taliban. Mr. Musharraf lost popular support in Pakistan over efforts to contain the Taliban that were seen as appeasement toward the United States. Now, the coalition will have to find its own solutions.

“I think the political leaders have no excuse now,” said Rasul Baksh Rais, a political analyst who teaches political studies at Lahore University of Management Sciences. “They have to address the immediate issues like inflation and the long-term structural problems of Pakistani polity. They can’t use Musharraf as an excuse any more.”

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NEW YORK TIMES: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/19/world/asia/19islamabad.html?hp

[Igel]

1. The coalition has no excuse.

And have screwed themselves, by saying the only thing preventing paradise on earth was Musharraf.

Lots of people expect oil prices and inflation to fall now, wheat production and education and employment to rise. That the militancy will decrease, that Pak honor versus India will be restored. That corruption will decrease.

They expect the moon. They might not settle for a lump of green cheese.