JEDDAH: Citizens and Pakistani expatriates across Saudi Arabia yesterday welcomed the resignation of President Pervez Musharraf and hoped that the new governing civilian coalition that engineered his ouster would overcome some tough challenges that follow.

The immediate reaction across the Kingdom to the resignation was one of optimism.

“This is the best thing he (Musharraf) has done. He should have resigned much earlier. This is the fate of anyone who usurps power from a legal and elected government,” said Ali Alghamdi, a former diplomat, in Jeddah.

Riaz Bukhari, president, Pakistan People’s Community, and Tasawwar Chaudhry, its local general secretary, expressed similar sentiments. “This is the positive result of Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leader Asif Ali Zardari’s efforts in handling things, which helped in avoiding a confrontational approach,” Bukhari said.

“If Musharraf had not stepped down, there would have been a major crisis resulting in challenges and counterchallenges,” he added. “The situation now is good for the future of democracy and judiciary. Today, the country’s democracy is a one-day child. We have to take care of it and be prepared for lots of sacrifices through justice and honesty.”

Tasawwar Chaudhry said: “Both the PPP and the Pakistan Muslim League (N), are the major coalition partners, should remain together for the future of the country and its democracy and people. In any case, this has closed the doors for martial law and dictatorship.”

“The situation augurs well for strengthening the country’s democracy,” said Qari Shakil, local president of PML (N). “Until there is freedom nothing will progress. The judges (sacked by Musharraf) will surely be reinstated in the next few days. Once the judges are reinstated, we overseas Pakistanis will file a case against Musharraf and his loyalists for tarnishing the image of Pakistan in the comity of nations.”

Jamal Ahmed, account analyst working with a major airline, said the PML (N) wanted Musharraf’s ouster and they got it. “It is now for the Nawaz group to deliver and address some of the most pressing problems like inflation.” He said he had reservations on the country becoming politically strong, as he feared there would be differences of opinion and bickering between the PPP and PML (N).

Shafique Shaikh, a civil engineer, said it was now for Zardari to fulfill his promises. “He can no more use Musharraf as an excuse.” He described Musharraf’s resignation as a great moment and a great change. “It is now really a test of their ability and a test of their capacity to deliver,” he added.

But Musharraf’s departure from the political scene could open the way for new political turf wars, including between the two leading coalition partners, Sharif and Zardari.

In the short term, the coalition would probably manage to survive, a cross-section of Saudis and expatriates said. Musharraf’s popularity slid as his policies came to be seen as appeasement of the United States and the announcement of plans to move toward impeaching him this month united a wide spectrum of Pakistani society.

The coalition will now have to resolve the contentious issue of the judges dismissed by Musharraf last year when he imposed a state of emergency. There was an agreement between Zardari and Sharif to restore the judges almost immediately.

Both would also have to reach agreement on the choice for the next president. So far, there are few clues about the contenders.

A Saudi businessman, who requested anonymity, said Musharraf should face the charges leveled against him. Among them were the circumstances of the assassination of Benazir Bhutto. The important relationship with the United States would likely continue little changed, and the campaign against terror would remain central to the agenda.

“I don’t think there will be any fundamental change in the relations between the United States and Pakistan,” he said. “The ruling coalition will more or less follow the policy of Musharraf in relations with Afghanistan, India and in the country’s tribal areas.”

In Riyadh, Gul Muhammed Buta, a Pakistani community leader and journalist, said that about 99 percent of his countrymen were happy to hear about the closure of the chapter of black history of the country with Musharraf’s resignation.

Pakistani Ambassador Shahid Karimullah and Press Officer Mohammed Jameel declined comment on the latest political developments, saying they would not be able to speak.

However, some Pakistanis who disagreed with Buta’s views said: “Musharraf was a better ruler than those power-hungry corrupt politicians who are now heading the current coalition government in Islamabad.”

“While talking to the Pakistani expatriates and reading through the comments on blogs, I can’t see any clear theme emerging, with some praising and others condemning Musharraf’s legacy, some regretting and others welcoming his departure, and many fretting about the future,” said Sheikh Abdul Haq, a Pakistani IT expert.

“In fact, Musharraf delivered initially and performed well on several fronts, but he created a lot of problems and committed a number of blunders during the second half of his tenure,” said Dr. Amjad Rana, the Pakistani CEO of a major company.

A large number of Pakistani expatriates were opposed to the idea of Musharraf being given safe passage out of the country after his resignation.

“I will urge the Pakistani government to bring the charge sheet against Musharraf in public and he must be tried by a Pakistani court for his faults,” said Naeem Jameel, a senior executive working for a local PR company here.

“Musharraf’s resignation was much anticipated by the country’s political, economic and social groups,” said Jameel.

Arif Balandi does not subscribe to the views of many of his compatriots. “Just wait for a few days, we will see Sharif and Zardari fighting for the chair of president,” said Arif.

“Musharraf’s resignation is a disappointment. He was an asset to the nation. Yes, there were decisions that were awfully wrong, but overall he was a much better administrator than the current lot,” said Mohammed Qayyum, a Pakistani general manager of a steel company in Dammam.

Tanwir Nawaz, a Pakistani, was visibly elated and felt that finally justice had been done.

“He should have resigned much earlier. He is now disgraced and paying the price of his arrogance and wrong decisions,” Nawaz added.

— With input from K.S. Ramkumar in Jeddah, Ghazanfar Ali Khan in Riyadh and Syed Abdullah Rizvi in Dammam.