Political foes turn screws on Pakistan's Musharraf

[June 02, 2008]  ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (AP) -- For eight years President Pervez Musharraf dominated Pakistan and charmed the West by presenting himself as a straight-talking ally in the war on terror.

Now his political foes are in the driving seat and the former army chief is a beleaguered figure under mounting pressure to resign. Yet he retains the support of President Bush and Musharraf seems in no mood to give way.

The parties in the new civilian government that took power in February elections are arrayed against him. In a significant shift this week, Asif Ali Zardari, the leader of the largest party in the coalition, explicitly called for Musharraf's resignation. He had earlier appeared willing to work with him.

"We believe Musharraf must go because the people of Pakistan no longer want him," said party spokesman Farhatullah Babar. "It will be better and there will be less political acrimony if he resigns rather than waiting to be impeached."

The shift brings Zardari's Pakistan People's Party closer to the tough line of former premier Nawaz Sharif, whose party polled second in the elections and has been calling for Musharraf's political blood.

"It looks like Musharraf is under extreme pressure, and it's more and more difficult for him to continue," said Talat Masood, a retired general and prominent political commentator. "The pressure is building up from every side."

The pressure is intensified by Pakistan's freewheeling media, which has reported aggressively on the clouds gathering around the president. The News, the biggest English-language newspaper, reported that Musharraf had "made up his mind to call it a day" after a late night meeting Wednesday with Gen. Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, his successor as army chief.

Musharraf denied the report on Thursday and stressed that he had the "best of associations" with the army chief. At a banquet attended by top officials, including Kayani, Musharraf said he would support the civilian government.

The intense focus on Musharraf's fate comes despite myriad problems facing Pakistan: controversial peace talks with Taliban militants; a gathering economic crisis; and a drawn-out dispute between Sharif and Zardari over how to restore judges axed by Musharraf.

Musharraf still enjoys the backing of his top foreign ally, President Bush, who delivered a clear endorsement of his staunch ally in the war on terror after they spoke by telephone on Friday. Bush said he looks forward to Musharraf's continuing role in strengthening U.S.-Pakistani relations, White House press secretary Dana Perino said.That statement is likely to raise the hackles of opponents who accuse Washington of propping up the unpopular Pakistani president.

Musharraf took power in a 1999 coup and enjoyed widespread public backing in the initial years of his rule. But he lost it in large measure last year during a power struggle with the judiciary that ended in his declaration of a state of emergency in November. He purged the Supreme Court, which had been due to rule on his eligibility as president.

Since the elections, Musharraf has taken a back seat in national affairs, but that has not dampened calls for his ouster.

The Nation newspaper said that by delaying his departure, Musharraf would "only add to the number of his opponents and make them increasingly determined."

The Daily Times, which has generally cautioned against the new government seeking confrontation with Musharraf, said the president's fate hung "in the balance" and advised him to resign.

"The issue is not so much about Musharraf going. That's a given now," said Nasim Zehra, a fellow of Harvard University's Asia Center. "It's how best his departure can be effected so it's without major confrontation or chaos and with some of his respect intact."

Western governments, even the U.S., are adjusting to the new political reality in Pakistan in which the civilian administration is calling the shots. Diplomats in Islamabad appear less concerned about Musharraf leaving than the continuing political instability.

"If Musharraf did go, our bilateral relationship would remain strong," said one diplomat who requested anonymity because of the sensitivity of the issue. "If he does go, we'd like it to be a graceful exit ... For all his faults, he does care about Pakistan."

[Associated Press; By MATTHEW PENNINGTON]

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