On Monday, Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf announced his resignation from office. According to the Associated Press, “An emotional Musharraf said he wanted to spare the nation from a perilous impeachment battle and that he was satisfied that all he had done ‘was for the people and for the country.'” During his live televised address, he asserted, “I hope the nation and the people will forgive my mistakes.” In his speech, the BBC reported that Musharraf also said “he was confident the charges against him would not stand, but this was not the time for more confrontation.” According to the BBC’s Chris Morris, “Mr. Musharraf’s resignation marks the end of an era for a country facing enormous economic and security challenges.”
Following the shocking announcement Monday, the AFP cited statements by Benazir Bhutto‘s son and co-chairman of the PPP, 19 year old Bilawal Bhutto, who noted, “After the martyrdom of my mother I said that democracy was the best revenge — and today it was proved true.” He told Geo Television, “Someone from the Pakistan People’s Party would be the next president of Pakistan but I don’t know who that would be.” Bilawal’s father and the effective leader of the PPP, Asif Ali Zardari, is of course rumored to be vying for the now-coveted presidency spot.
The AP noted in its coverage that television footage “showed groups of people celebrating in the streets in several towns across Pakistan, some of them firing automatic weapons into the sky.” The news agency added, “Musharraf said he will turn in his resignation to the National Assembly speaker on Monday but it was not immediately clear whether it would become effective the same day. The chairman of Pakistan’s Senate, Mian Mohammed Soomro, was poised to take over in the interim.” Pakistan’s foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said leaders of the ruling coalition would discuss later today whether to prosecute Musharraf in court on charges that that were being planned for the impeachment process, or allow for his safe exit from office.
So, in the aftermath of what many are calling a “shocking” decision, how do you feel about Musharraf’s resignation? How did you react to the news? Finally, what do you think is in store for the country next?
[To read CHUP’s recent coverage of the impeachment speculation, click here.]
To be honest, I am feeling so ambivalent. While i found his speech to be self-serving and insincere – “i did everything for my country” – who’s interest did the NRO serve exactly? – I feel a bit concerned about what is going to happen next.
His leaving has created this void, and I am not sure who will fill in his shoes, especially since that will determine the course Pakistan will take for the next few years. If the next choice of dictator, I mean president (oops did I just say that?) is Asif Zardari, have we — or rather these politicians who THINK they know what the people want — REALLY chosen the lesser of two evils?
And if Zardari does become president without popular vote, there’s great deal of irony in Bilawal’s words.
Local TV stations are reporting that Zardari has said he will offer the President’s position to Kalsum Nawaz and if she rejects it his sister may take the position.
Personally, I’m very nervous about what will happen next and it’s no relief that Musharraf has resigned since we’re left with two unelected leaders, Zardari and Sharif, in charge of this “democracy.”
Oh, and maybe Bilawal should change his quote to personal vendettas are the best revenge.
[…] shah mahmood, shocking announcement, son and co, soomro, television footage, zardari Read more at: CHUP! – Changing Up Pakistan This post […]
@Dear O,
Sherry Rehman says
“Mushy’s resignation is the triumph of Benazir ”
I think Sherry Darling is fit for the vaccancy, but only as an ugly heritage of ” BB & Mushy joint stock Company ”
but would be a disaster having two donkeys together
“running a Govt ” already one Pir-o-murshid is enough
to be treated by outside world, as retarded species.
Mrs Kulsoom Nawaz or other members of the “LOOTED” Shareef family deserves and be compensated with such sacred post ,
but not the LOOTERS, who conspired with Mushy and were
and are still COMPLICES of Mushy.
The Frankness of Nawaz is exceptional, YES ITS TIME THAT WE
REVIVE
QADAM BARHAO NAWAZ SHAREEF,
QAUM TUMHAREY SATH HEY
keep it up, chum
O – I could not agree with you more. This is the problem with this country. Everything is done in such a hasty manner. Government’s change without any consideration of the political or economic ramifications. We never have a plan – which I suppose is what I admired about Musharaf, as much as I had lost faith in him, he was a man who made decisions and acted upon them.
I cant believe that Kulsum Nawaz will be offered the position of a President. What credentials does she even have! This is what upsets me about the democratic structure in our country. It is democratic in the sense that 2 political elites (in “civilian” garb) are making decisions rather than one in a mlitary uniform.
On another note – Kalsoom Lakhani (the creator/editor) of this website will be on BBC News Radio today, 1:00 pm US time and 6 pm London time!! Tune in to hear her opinion on Musharraf’s resignation and the future of Pakistan!
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/news/
who is going to own the war against terrorism?
The real Quaid-E-Azam main word was Unity. But alas!! The Quaid-Chor Nawaz Sharif, and Quaid 10% don’t believe in it.
After election, real leaders always bury their hatchet and work toward the betterment of the country but it is not the case in Pakistan.
Talibanization is real threat to Pakistan. Right now Pakistan is going through real crisis- US/India and Afghanistan are working toward breaking of Pakistan and our politicians are lending a great hand toward this goal. WAKE UP before Pakistan is gone.
Quaid Chor and Quaid 10% will run to Dubai or UK and Poor Pakistani will be left with nothing.
UNITY UNITY AND UNTIY is the time right now!!!.
My prayers to All Pakistani.
@Rafay: Who exactly are you supporting? Your comments are not clear. Which retarded species are you referring to?
Sania: Thanks for posting the BBC link. Kalsoom did an amazing job representing the youth of Pakistan and expressing our concern about the future.
@PK – you are most welcome. I agree @ your comment @Kalsoom. she did a wonderful job. Congratulations kalsoom!
@ Rafay – I agree with PK, please make it clear for purpose of this discussion. Many thanks.
For those of us abroad without access to Pakistani TV channels, here’s a link to a slideshow with pictures of people celebrating after Musharraf resigned. –> http://www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2008/08/18/world/0818-PSTAN_index.html
[…] Link to the original site Author: wtfpakistan Time: Tuesday, August 19th, 2008 at 4:42 am Category: Pakistan Comments: You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site. RSS: You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Navigation: « Musharraf in Resignation Talks? […]
It is definitely end of an era. Immediately, I expect a new wave of instability and chaos. But, longer term, it could be positive depending on how Pakistanis and their civilian leadership behave themselves. Here’s an excerpt from a piece I wrote recently:
“Musharraf’s resignation seems likely to trigger a new wave of instability in Pakistan as the two main parties in the coalition government jockey for his share of power. It would also remove from the political stage the man who has become a favorite whipping boy for various groups including the lawyers, the rights activists, the Islamic radicals, and the politicians of various stripes, brought together by nothing more than their common hatred of Musharraf. Once these diverse elements accomplish this goal, each of them will, in all likelihood, continue to agitate for their own separate, conflicting agendas, contributing to greater instability. Ironically, this resignation will shine the spotlight with greater intensity on the incompetence and corruption of the new civilian leadership as people demand solutions to their real problems such as high inflation, unemployment, security and serious ongoing power outages.
While accountability of its leaders is healthy for a nation, the process must be fairly implemented and no one should be above the law. The process should be designed to improve the overall quality of governance in Pakistan. Musharraf, Sharif, Zardari and others must all be held equally accountable for their current and pass actions for the process of accountability to be fair and balanced.”
@PK & Sania,
me alluding to Pir-an-Pir Sajada-nashin Hazrat Pir Sayyed
Yousuf Raza Shah Sahib Gillani, but,
I am supporting only those who are pure pure Pro-Pakistans,
hav’nt you guys understood ? now that Kalsoom seems to
have an accent, me with my poor French-German accent will
certainly have a “treatment for accent syndrome” before
appearing on BBC with Abidah Parveen (sorry, Hussain)
[…] The tearful good bye on the 18th of August by Musharraf came barely four days after the celebrations of the 61st Independence Day. Pakistan gingerly marks the end of a long nine year dynasty. His concluding remarks were mostly a walk back into history as penned down by The Pakistani Spectator, which was just to highlight his services for the people and for the country. […]
[…] Kuaga huku kulikotawaliwa na machozi kulikofanya na Musharraf mnamo tarehe 18 Agosti mwaka huu kulikuja zikiwa zimepita siku nne tu tangu Taifa liadhimishe sherehe za miaka 61 ya Uhuru. Ni katika hali ya tahadhari kubwa kwamba Pakistani inaadhimisha mwisho huu wa miaka tisa ya utawala wa familia hii. Hotuba yake ya mwisho ilijaa hasa kurejelea historia na hii ni kama ilivyonukuliwa na The Pakistani Spectator, yaani hasa kuelezea ni kwa namna gani alitumikia nchi na watu wake. […]
@ In viking language, message is
Dokhebazium piran-e-Pir we Zardarium ofium pppilium
protectorarium avecium Dograrium im Cjerium
im Pakistanium mit thuggerium MQMium und Stalinium.
translation on request !