No clean slate in Pakistan

Afzal Khan, senior journalist and former executive director, Associated Press of Pakistan (APP): The results show that Musharraf alone is the loser. Now the only option before him is to step down. His re-election as president was a controversial affair and fingers were raised at him, across the world. This was followed by the Emergency. In a last-ditch effort, he might try to form a coalition of

PML-Q, PPP, Awami National Party and Muttahida Qaumi Movement.

• Will the army continue to back Musharraf?

Asad Durrani, former ISI chief: The army supports its general. Musharraf is now president and is expected to have a different role. After General Ashfaq Kayani took over, the army looks disengaged from politics. If not back to the barracks, it is at least not doing the kind of work Musharraf would have made it do.

Ayesha Siddiqa, strategic expert: The army stopped backing him when the country went to the polls. Otherwise, he would have managed to rig the elections.

• What kind of a relationship will the new government have with the army?

Durrani: A normal relationship. The army would like to stay out of the corridors of power and discharge its duties only when there is a need.

• What will be the status of the judiciary?

Taimur Malik, barrister and executive director of the think tank, Research Society of International Law, Pakistan: The results have no immediate impact on the present composition and status of the judiciary until the incoming Parliament revokes the actions effected under the Provisional Constitutional Order (PCO) of November 3, 2007. Moreover, the appointment of new judges to fill in for the sacked judges has complicated the situation further. Restoration of the deposed judges will essentially entail the removal of the new judges.

• Do lawyers see hope in the new government — especially in case the PM is from the PPP, considering that Benazir Bhutto was non-committal when it came to the restoration of the judiciary?

Malik: The legal fraternity is hopeful that the judiciary will be restored if the PML-N becomes a major partner of the new coalition government.

• Can the deposed chief justice be reinstated now?

Malik: It remains to be seen whether the PPP will concur with the PML-N’s one-point agenda of restoration of the judiciary. Any restoration of the judiciary will require a two-thirds majority in Parliament. Moreover, the PCO needs to be validated by Parliament.

• With the PPP in command, what is in store for Chaudhry Aitzaz Ahsan?

Malik: The legal fraternity has boycotted the elections. As president of the Supreme Court Bar Association, Barrister Aitzaz Ahsan also withdrew his candidature from the PPP. It is imminent that his detention will come to an end and while he may not have an immediate role in Parliament, he will emerge as the leader of the movement for the restoration of the judiciary to its pre-November 3 status.

• Could the new government be as strict with the media as the outgoing government?

Asma Shirazi, special correspondent ARY One World, who was banned along with five other TV journalists from broadcasting: If there is a deal between the PPP and Musharraf, the latter’s writ about the media might apply. Till Musharraf is on the political canvas, those like me can’t expect to be allowed to go back on air. The reinstatement of the judiciary and the media will be the litmus test for the independence of the new government.

• How will the relations between the US and the new government play out?

Siddiqa: The war on terror is still being fought. Pakistan and the US need each other. Now the US will have to route the issues through a political government.

• How will the religious extremists and the Taliban view the new government?

Siddiqa: I didn’t see any confrontation with the extremists during elections. Where did all the terrorists go? The more important issue is change in the NWFP.

• Have religious parties like the MMA lost significance?

Khan: Although their representation has been drastically reduced, they will remain a force to reckon with. Their voice will be heard by whosoever is at the head.

• With anti-Musharraf parties now in power, can the president be impeached?

Khan: With Zardari’s intentions still unclear, nothing concrete can be said at this stage. The PPP wants an anti-Musharraf stance but Zardari is reportedly under pressure from the US to cooperate with him.

ruchika.talwar@expressindia.com