Periscope on Pakistan

The Nation: Chief Executive of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, Chairman JCSC and COAS General Pervez Musharraf on Friday promised an 8220;efficient, impartial interim set-up8221; to run the country. Gen Musharraf on Friday presided over a meeting of the corps commanders of the army and identified economic revival, accountability and national integration as his priorities.

Gen Musharraf said the plans were being finalised for the establishment of a set-up 8220;which would ensure stability, credibility, transparency and accountability in running the affairs of the State.8221; All the corps commanders and principal staff officers participated in the meeting, the first after the imposition of the 8220;proclamation of emergency.8221; Gen Musharraf also apprised the corps commanders of the circumstances that led to its imposition. The interim set-up may be announced in the next few days.

Gen Musharraf also met withthe Chief of Air Staff and Chief of Naval Staff and discussed with them the situation in the country and the operational preparedness of the armed forces. AFP adds: Earlier officials said the Chief Executive had started consultations and contacts to create a new government team. 8220;The process is on, discussions are going under way,8221; the head of the official Press Information Department PID, Salim Gul, told AFP. The military8217;s Inter-Services Public Relations ISPR diverted queries to the PID, signalling a gradual resumption of functions by civilian government functionaries three days after the military takeover

The politics of turncoats begins

The Nation :ONE of the reasons why democracy is so fragile in Pakistan is that politicians tend to care more for their own short-term interests and less for loyalty to principles and their parties. So, when a government is overthrown, there is no shortage of turncoats volunteering their services to the new rulers. It is, therefore, not surprising to findMr Ijaz-ul-Haq, Senior Vice-President of the PMLN, justifying the overthrow of his own party8217;s government. One can excuse Mr Ijaz-ul-Haq for he has had little grooming in party politics as conducted in democracies.

One had, however, hardly expected Ms Abida Hussain, who has not only received liberal education abroad but also belongs to a political family, to suddenly issue a charge-sheet against the fallen leader of her party. During both the tenures of the deposed PM, she was rewarded with high offices. She was appointed ambassador to the US during his first tenure, and a Federal Minister in the second. Now that he is no more in power, she accuses him of having a confrontation with institutions of the state and acting like an emperor rather than a PM of a democratic country.

Why did she not stand up to the ex-PM, telling him to stop weakening the institutions of the state and to act in accordance with the democratic traditions, when she was a member of his Cabinet or even after she was not? Had shetaken a bold stand at the time, other party members might have joined her, and they could have jointly stopped Mr Sharif from certain excesses. This is how the working of a government is improved in a democratic country.

In case her advice was not heeded, she could have resigned in protest, thus simultaneously satisfying her conscience and establishing a healthy tradition. Regardless of whatever differences one may have with one8217;s party leadership, one must not compromise on principles. The present army intervention is a temporary aberration and the democratic process, which alone can keep the country united, has got to be revived sooner or later.