Vol. 71/No. 39      October 22, 2007

Most opposition parties boycotted the elections. Middle-class layers opposed to Musharraf’s regime said the election was unconstitutional and vowed to continue protests against his government.

Pakistan’s president is elected by the national and provincial assemblies. Musharraf received a majority vote from legislators in parliament and four provincial assemblies, extending his rule to 2012.

Musharraf’s coalition has a majority in the assemblies, which are set to be dissolved in a few weeks for a general election in January. Only a handful of his opponents were among the 685 legislators who cast a vote, out of the 1,170 eligible.

Leading up to the elections, Musharraf’s opponents sought to block the vote, filing petitions with the country’s Supreme Court to bar him from running for re-election while still serving as army chief.

In an attempt to give legitimacy to the election and overcome constitutional challenges, Musharraf brokered a power-sharing deal with former prime minister Benazir Bhutto. In exchange for Bhutto’s Pakistan Peoples Party not joining the boycott, Musharraf granted Bhutto amnesty from corruption charges. This opens the door for her return from exile.

As part of the agreement, Bhutto is demanding constitutional changes that would allow her to serve a third term as prime minister if her party wins a majority in the January elections.

Musharraf announced that he will step down as army chief by November 15, when the current presidential term expires. He appointed Lt. Gen. Ashfaq Parvez Kayani as vice chief of army staff. Kayani is expected to become army chief once Musharraf steps down.

Washington encouraged the deal between Musharraf and Bhutto, hoping it would bring stability to Pakistan and maintain Musharraf as head of the country.

“Pakistan is an important partner and ally to the United States and we congratulate them for today’s election,” said Gordon Johndroe, a spokesperson for the White House National Security Council.

“We look forward to the electoral commission’s announcement and to working with all of Pakistan’s leaders on important bilateral, regional and counterterrorism issues.”

Pressed by Washington, the Musharraf regime moved tens of thousands of troops to the northwestern border with Afghanistan last July to fight Taliban and al-Qaeda forces.

Prior to that offensive, Musharraf had allowed Islamist groups to function largely unchecked, hoping to garner their support to counter growing opposition to his eight-year rule from other bourgeois forces.

Many in Pakistan blame Musharraf’s support to the U.S.-led “war on terrorism” for the surge in attacks by Taliban and al-Qaeda forces within Pakistan, which has cost the lives of hundreds of people since July.  
 
 
Front page (for this issue) | Home | Text-version home