Official: Musharraf impeachment a 'Pandora's Box'

[saltwn]

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (AP) — A senior figure in a party allied with President Pervez Musharraf says trying to impeach the former army strongman will "open a Pandora's box."

Meanwhile Friday, some Pakistani newspapers suggested Musharraf resign to spare the country a messy political battle.

The main parties in the ruling coalition announced Thursday they would seek to impeach Musharraf, whose supporters they defeated in February elections.

But Musharraf ally Mushahid Hussain warned "it is not going to be that easy" and promised his party would defend the president.

The U.S.-allied president has given no sign he'll leave quietly.

The Nation newspaper said in an editorial "he can save the country a lot of trouble by resigning voluntarily." The Associated Press: Official: Musharraf impeachment a 'Pandora's Box'

Yeah, well, they need to open up a box of Post Toasties and a can of whoop and get rid of that guy and his minions. He appears a self indulgent liar and possibly a murderer.
Don't let the door hit you, Musharraf

[saltwn]

YouTube - Pakistan moves to impeach its president...

You go, Pakistan!

[bhkad]

Originally Posted by saltwn

Yeah, well, they need to open up a box of Post Toasties and a can of whoop and get rid of that guy and his minions. He appears a self indulgent liar and possibly a murderer.
Don't let the door hit you, Musharraf

I was impressed that you chose to post a thread on this development.

Have you ever thought that Musharraf may be the bad guy we need to support in order to avoid getting the worse guy?

In our current presidential campaign season Sen. Obama has encouraged us to embrace CHANGE without really knowing what that change might be or what impact those changes might have on our future.

It's a risky course to commit to change without knowing what the dangers are up ahead. You drove cross country. Did you ever go to a new destination without a map?

Well, the people wanting to impeach Musharraf may be worse than he is.

Do you have links which show that those who'd benefit from his ouster would be friendly with us? Could they be trusted with the Pakistani nukes? Would they support democratic freedoms? Even though the Pakistanis haven't been THE best allies, I believe Musharraf might be hampered in doing more to help us by the huge majority of Muslims in their country who hold a warm spot in their hearts for the Taliban.

I am under the impression that were he not there Pakistan might have become a member of the Axis of Evil. And still might.

But I don't know.

I last looked at that situation in any great depth in January. Much may have changed. The picture might have been blurry and I might not have been seeing it clearly then.

Whatcha got?

[Spencer Collins]

Musharraf has many "issues" but I also worry about "who" will replace him!

"One bastard goes in, another one comes out"..Tuco

[saltwn]

I'm afraid it's not ideals you might agree with, but don't let me put words in your mouth. Background PPP (Pakistan Peoples Party), for the record:



The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) was launched at its founding convention held in Lahore on November 30 - December 01, 1967. At the same meeting, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto was elected as its Chairman. Among the express goals for which the Party was formed were the establishment of an egalitarian democracy and the application of socialistic ideas to realize economic and social justice. A more immediate task was to struggle against the hated military dictatorship at the height of its power when the PPP was formed.

The Party also promised the elimination of feudalism in accordance with the established principles of socialism to protect and advance the interests of peasantry.

Political activist with the PPP, 1977-84; repeatedly imprisoned and kept under house arrest by the Pakistani government; political exile in London, England, 1984-86; returned to Pakistan in April, 1986; Pakistan co-chair, beginning in 1986; After elections held November 1988, invited to form the government, became Prime Minister in 1988 but her government was illegally dismissed in August 1990. She again came to power after her Party won a majority in elections held in October 1993. Her government was once again dismissed illegally in November 1996. Since then PPP under her leadership has been subjected to political persecution first by Nawaz's regime and then by Musharraf regime. The leadership faced all the difficulties with courage and has remained united under her leadership despite coercion and intimidation. Pakistan Peoples Party

Nawaz Sharif is a lawyer -politician who has aligned himself with the PPP:

The alliance of ex-PM Nawaz Sharif and the late Benazir Bhutto's party will also reinstate the judges deposed by Musharraf last year. Having opposed Musharraf's reelection bid, the judges are also likely to challenge his presidency in court,

The Bush administration is in effect saying the ends justify the means:

- His political future might be in doubt, but Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf is still receiving forceful backing from the Bush administration after his party's drubbing in parliamentary elections—and it's angering Pakistanis, reports the New York Times . "I’ve never seen such an irrational, impractical move on the part of the US," said a political scientist at Lahore University, incredulous that Washington would sideline the two victorious parties, both moderate and pro-American.Bush Push for Musharraf Angers Pakistan - World news | Newser: Know More. Search Less.

Then there's the ongoing stuff overlapping the border.

over 50 people were killed in attacks that rocked the northwestern part of the country, another pro-Taliban region and a battleground between militants and the Pakistani army.

Someone in Pakistan recently stated "all our politicians are corrupt"
I just believe the Pakistani people should be allowed to pick their own poison. Kinda like us.

[saltwn]

Musharif has an illegal government.

[cnredd]

Originally Posted by saltwn

Yeah, well, they need to open up a box of Post Toasties and a can of whoop and get rid of that guy and his minions. He appears a self indulgent liar and possibly a murderer.
Don't let the door hit you, Musharraf

I disagree...

Although I don't consider him an outright "friend" of the US, the idea of wanting to remove a dog which COULD bite and replacing him with a tiger which WILL KILL is bad policy...

Musharraf is the devil we know...and that devil (who was educated in America) is FAR better than most, if not all, alternatives available...

Remember...Pakistan is a country with nuclear warheads...

[saltwn]

Originally Posted by cnredd

I disagree...

Although I don't consider him an outright "friend" of the US, the idea of wanting to remove a dog which COULD bite and replacing him with a tiger which WILL KILL is bad policy...

Musharraf is the devil we know...and that devil (who was educated in America) is FAR better than most, if not all, alternatives available...

Remember...Pakistan is a country with nuclear warheads...

And India has them too. So tit for tat there.
But what we want is exactly the issue that makes some other nations look toward us with exasperation. It isn't up to us to decide to help an illegal government stay in power. We need to be wooing his opposition at this point.

[cnredd]

Originally Posted by saltwn

And India has them too. So tit for tat there.
But what we want is exactly the issue that makes some other nations look toward us with exasperation. It isn't up to us to decide to help an illegal government stay in power. We need to be wooing his opposition at this point.

Umm...

His opposition are the Taliban and their compatriots...

[saltwn]

Originally Posted by cnredd

Umm...

His opposition are the Taliban and their compatriots...

Not all of them are Taliban. Don't forget there's two parties who have joined forces here.
Are we saying to the people of Pakistan, "Your elections are worthless, cause you voted for the wrong guy?"