Eideard

US Ambassador to Pakistan Anne W Patterson has made it clear that the trial of former President General Pervez Musharraf under Article-6 of the constitution was Pakistan’s internal matter.

‘We wanted a safe exit for Musharraf from the presidency for political stability in Pakistan and now he has become a relic of the past and we have no position on him’, she said in an exclusive interview with a private TV channel.

‘It is regrettable that the expansion of the US embassy in Pakistan and talks about the purchase of the PC hotel have become such a hyped issue without any reason’, she said, adding that houses had been rented in Islamabad keeping in view the needs of the diplomatic staff.

There are a total of eight marines in Pakistan while the media is reporting the arrival of 1,000 marines which is incorrect, she said…

Eight years after Washington and Islamabad agreed to fight the Taliban and al Qaida, Pakistan has ‘different priorities’ from the US, said the ambassador…

Nevertheless, Patterson said that Pakistan had ‘taken more action against some of these groups than most people are aware of.’

The article wanders through the political concerns of several factions within the Pakistan government – and is useful for that reason.

Of course, it’s especially interesting to hear an envoy from the U.S. government speaking so frankly about a leftover from the Bush-Cheney daze.

Lawyers dance in celebration outside Karachi Bar Association
Daylife/Reuters Pictures used by permission

Pakistan’s former military ruler Pervez Musharraf faces an extended exile, possibly in Britain, following a court ruling that has paved the way for a possible – although unlikely – treason prosecution.

Celebrating lawyers danced on the steps of the supreme court after a 14-judge bench ruled that Musharraf acted illegally when he suspended the constitution and imposed a six-week period of emergency rule on 3 November 2007. At the time, the rule was seen as a gambit by Musharraf to strengthen his grip on power. After a long struggle, he was forced from office a year ago.

The court ruling was delivered by chief justice Iftikhar Chaudhry, whose attempted removal by Musharraf in March 2007 sparked a protest movement that eventually led to the general’s downfall…

Neither Musharraf, who seized power in a 1999 coup, nor his lawyers attended the court hearing. The retired general left Pakistan for Britain two months ago, reportedly at the urging of the army chief, General Ashfaq Kayani, who wanted to remove all political distractions as the army fought the Taliban along the Afghan border…

Talat Masood, a retired general and former Musharraf confidante, said it was unlikely he would return to Pakistan soon. “He will stay away and the army will advise him to stay away,” he said…”

According to the ruling, all judges who swore allegiance to Musharraf will now be sacked. Also, some 37 laws passed during the emergency period will be subject to review by parliament.

“It is open to the courts to condone all or any of them,” said Saeed-uz-Zaman, a former chief justice, speaking on Dawn television.

Does any of this sound like a potential scenario to be played out in the United States? Or the U.K.?

Any politicians and/or judges with the backbone to set precedents that include prosecution for suspending the constitution?

UPDATE: Musharraf says he will resign rather than face impeacement.

Cynic that I am, I guess that means he couldn’t find enough Army officers to support a coup.

Pakistan’s ruling coalition has taken another step toward impeaching President Pervez Musharraf, finalizing the charges to be launched against the former army strongman if he refuses to resign.

Musharraf is holding out against enormous pressure to quit from foes who swept February elections and relegated the stalwart U.S. ally to the political sidelines.

On Sunday, a committee of coalition officials agreed on a list of impeachment charges against the president, Information Minister Sherry Rehman said.

Rehman provided no details of the charges, which will now go to coalition leaders for a final decision on launching impeachment proceedings in Parliament.

“We’ve come to a mutual conclusion on what we shall present to the leaders of the coalition government,” Rehman told reporters after the committee meeting in Islamabad.

“Once they have cleared it, we will be presenting it as part of a resolution and charge sheet in the joint houses and, God willing, that should happen this week,” she said.

I realize this is mostly political claptrap from one or another PR maven. Musharraf can be trusted to keep his word about as much as his buddy in the White House.

For those parties and people in South Asia working and hoping for peace and democracy, it’s still a step forward from the past decade.