Press Cautious on Bhutto-Musharraf Pact

Aug 30, 08:51 AM

Current Headlines: Leading Pakistani newspapers give a guarded welcome to reports of a power-sharing deal between former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto and President Pervez Musharraf, but insist any such agreement must be first step towards ending military rule.

One paper believes a deal would help restore stability by strengthening the embattled president, although another believes Gen Musharraf has already been too weakened by challenges to his authority by the Supreme Court.

An Urdu-language paper condemns the expected deal as undemocratic, while a pro-Islamist paper believes it would only serve to further the United States' interests in Pakistan.

DAWN

Things seem to be moving at last on the political scene, and the realisation seems to be dawning on all politicians, including those in uniform, that without giving up their rigid positions it will be well nigh impossible to break the current stalemate. The generals must now be intelligent enough to comprehend one obvious truth: each time the military takes over, it leaves the country in a greater mess, and that ultimately it is the elected civilian leadership that must rule.

THE NEWS

One key factor often mentioned by the president for his re- election is that the country, in his estimation, cannot do without him and needs someone like him, especially to fight the scourge of extremism and militancy. While it may well be true that the country needs a strong and assertive government to fight this menace, it is also true that only a democratically elected government will be able to carry out this difficult task.

DAILY TIMES

Musharraf and Bhutto's reported agreement's success will depend on how [Ms Bhutto's] Pakistani People's Party is able to present the deal to its supporters as a victory for the forces that seek a transition to democracy. On the other hand, President Musharraf will be much better placed to face down a greatly weakened PML-N-MMA [Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal, Islamist coalition], and Pakistan may return to normal without major upheaval.

NAWA-I-WAQT

We believe that Muslim League leader Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain should work to restore democracy, rather than support a dictator who is about to fall. If the Musharraf-Benazir deal is successful, it will be an ideal situation for the United States. In this situation, only unity between the Muslim League and other political parties can put the country onto the path of democracy.

NATION

Musharraf has been forced onto the back foot by the lawyers' movement. The subsequent decisions by the Supreme Court, including the verdict [to reinstate the chief justice] and the ruling ordering the government not to obstruct the return of Nawaz Sharif, have further weakened him. Combined with overtures made to Ms Bhutto, these developments have demoralised the ruling alliance.

MASHRIQ

It is very unfortunate that even after 60 years of Pakistan's independence, we have been unable to introduce a democratic culture in our country. Deals and conspiracies still form our political culture. As long as individual interests and deals override the national interest, the establishment of a democratic society in Pakistan will remain a dream.

Originally published by BBC Monitoring research in English 30 Aug 07.

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