It will be an 'ugly victory' for Musharraf, says US daily

WASHINGTON: Dubbing Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf's likely win in Saturday's election as an 'ugly victory', a prominent US daily has said the 'good news' is that the 'autocratic but ineffectual leader' will probably surrender a large share of power in the coming weeks.
    
 "Gen Pervez Musharraf will almost certainly succeed in orchestrating his 're-election' today as president of Pakistan -- but it will be an ugly victory," The Washington Post said in a hard-hitting editorial "Pakistan's Tainted Election".
    
It pointed that the national Parliament and provincial legislatures which form the Electoral College 'have little legitimacy, because they were chosen in rigged elections four years ago'.
     
Taking a snipe at the General, the daily said, "in a 'genuine democratic election', Musharraf would have 'no chance' of extending his eight years in power, which began with a military coup."
     
In a few months, Pakistan could be governed by a troika of Musharraf, Pakistan People's Party leader Benazir Bhutto or another civilian prime minister, and the likely new army commander, Gen. Ashfaq Pervez Kiyani, the Post said but expressed fears that the whole process may involve "very little democracy".
     
'Already tainted, the general's mandate will also be tenuous'. Pakistan's Supreme Court ruled on Friday that the result cannot be certified until it rules on whether Mr. Musharraf is violating the constitution by entering the election without stepping down as Army commander in chief.
     
"The good news is that Pakistan's autocratic but ineffectual leader will probably surrender a large share of power in the coming weeks," The Post opined.

The daily pointed out that Musharraf has promised that if granted a new mandate as president, he will give up his military command -- something 'that may cause the Supreme Court to overlook the legal problems with his election'.
     
The daily said the Bush administration, which has been quietly pushing for such an outcome while publicly proclaiming disinterest in Pakistan's internal affairs, is hoping that it will strengthen the government both politically and militarily in its losing battle against Islamic extremism -- including Taliban and al Qaeda forces that have gained control over a large and growing chunk of western Pakistan.
     
"The problem with this convoluted process is that it may involve very little democracy. Though Bhutto says her deal with Musharraf is meant to ensure that parliamentary elections will be free and fair, it appeared yesterday that another major Pakistani political figure, Nawaz Sharif, could be excluded." The daily warned Bhutto that despite her popularity, she could quickly be discredited if she is seen to be gaining power through backroom dealing with Musharraf.

 "The government has recently conducted a crackdown on opposition leaders from Sharif's party, as well as on the media. Unless the crackdown is reversed and a credible parliamentary election is held, Pakistan's moderate and secular center will continue to be at war with itself while its enemies grow steadily stronger," The Post said.