ISLAMABAD/KARACHI, 22 June — Pakistan Chief Executive Gen. Pervez Musharraf’s decision to declare himself president has drawn criticism at home and anger of the United States, but crucially has won approval from the country’s oldest enemy and its most important ally.
Old foe India was quick to grant recognition to Musharraf, mindful of the fact the general is due in New Delhi next month for a key summit with Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee. But China’s insistence that Musharraf’s decision was an “internal matter” that would be respected by Beijing gives the general even weightier recognition.
Musharraf began his first day as president of Pakistan yesterday in a hostile civilian atmosphere. His predecessor, Rafiq Tarar, led the crescendo of criticism against the chief executive. Tarar made it clear in a statement that he did not relinquish the office but was eased out.
Musharraf’s assumption of the office of president is a blow for politicians who were expecting a restoration of civilian rule, commentators said. Musharraf’s action made it clear that he was not going to transfer power to politicians but would only involve them in a military-led form of government, politicians and analysts said.
“It is a national tragedy,” said Nawabzada Nasrullah, chief of the 18-party Alliance for the Restoration of Democracy (ARD). He said that by assuming the office of president “without any legal authority, Musharraf has abrogated the constitution”. The alliance would meet on Monday to discuss a new strategy, he said.
Reza Rabbani, a leader of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto’s Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), said: “The dictator has come up with his real face. His intention is to cling to power.” Benazir, facing corruption charges at home, lives in self-exile in London. In a statement released by her party, she said Musharraf’s act was reminiscent of the actions of three previous military rulers in Pakistan. “The assumption of presidency by the army chief is another dark chapter in the history of Pakistan and its people,” she said.
Describing Musharraf as “unelected, unrepresentative and an illegitimate holder of the office,” she said like his predecessors, he would now hold a referendum or force the local council members to vote for him.
The Pakistan Muslim League (like-minded) expressed its regret over dissolution of parliament and Musharraf’s self-appointment as president. “The dissolution of assemblies has belied that we are Team-B of Gen. Musharraf,” PML President Mian Muhammad Azhar said.
In Karachi, an ARD spokesman rebuked Musharraf for assuming the office of president and attempted to put a new spin on an opposition claim that martial law had finally been enforced in the country. Javed Hashmi, a senior leader of the Muslim League and the ARD, said that Musharraf’s move is nothing but a declaration of martial law.
