Finally they met
EDITORIAL (July 30 2007): Despite firm denials by both presidential aides and Benazir Bhutto's spokespersons, it is believed to be true that President Musharraf and Benazir Bhutto met secretly at a royal palace in Abu Dhabi on Friday afternoon.
As to whether their meeting remained inconclusive with regard to cutting a deal, there are different reports, some insisting it ended in a deadlock and others saying its success is being kept undisclosed to sustain Benazir Bhutto's credibility as an independent actor not beholden to a military dictator. Both had wanted to meet each other, for their own but different reasons: while President Musharraf desires to get reelected by the sitting assemblies, Benazir Bhutto is after a record third term as prime minister.
Given the fact that politics sometimes produces strange bedfellows, chances of the wishes of both being fulfilled are fairly bright. Only the naïve would dub the President's eagerness to cut a deal with Benazir Bhutto - earlier the subject of his intense ridicule and charges of corruption - as a dramatic climb-down, for in politics priorities change with changing circumstances.
Pervez Musharraf, who now appears to have driven himself into a corner as much for his own doings as for the unforeseen international developments, has rightly concluded that if he has to choose a new partner for the rest of his political journey nothing fits into that definition as perfectly as the Benazir Bhutto-headed PPP.
President Musharraf and Benazir Bhutto are already late in meeting together. Time is no more on their side. He has only six to 10 weeks to get him reelected from the incumbent parliament and assemblies. And, for Benazir Bhutto's comeback the constitutional timeframe is even more constricted; she would be eligible for premiership for the third time only after the bar on her is lifted through a constitutional amendment and cases against her are withdrawn. Of course, with the PPP supporting the government in the parliament, effecting constitutional changes should be no problem.
But in between lie vast swathes of uncertainty stemming from potential intervention by the Supreme Court interpreting relevant constitutional provisions differently from what the government has in mind. President Musharraf's unannounced departure for Abu Dhabi and Benazir Bhutto's from London from amidst an important party conclave is indicative of the urgency dictated by their mutual concerns and their abiding political interests.
One issue that reportedly still stands unresolved is the timing of his doffing the uniform. And, that is an important issue because the one uncompromising demand incessantly made by Benazir Bhutto has been that she would never deal with a Musharraf in uniform. Will he doff his "second skin" before election? remains a question. So far, there is no indication whatsoever that he would concede her demand. But a way out of this riddle could be the guarantee by a third party, possibly by an Arab royalty or the Americans, that once re-elected as the President he would oblige the PPP leader.
As the general election nears the pieces of our political jigsaw puzzle have started falling into their places. A grand opposition is already on the scene, thanks to the Nawaz Sharif-hosted multi-party conference, in the form of All-Parties Democratic Movement. In the run-up to the general elections, it is expected to retain its unity although that's not its raison d'etre, as it is basically focused at stopping President Musharraf from getting reelected.
With a few insignificant changes, including some desertions, the ruling coalition is also likely to retain its composition. While PPP would, hopefully, turn out to be greatly instrumental in helping the President retain his office, its role in the post-general election would be determined by the size of its victory. Chaudhry Shujaat has not ruled out sharing power with PPP, appreciating Benazir Bhutto's contribution to "national interest" by supporting President Musharraf.
However, the PML (Q) leader has not promised Benazir Bhutto prime ministership. In fact, her so-called negotiations with the President are mainly centred on prodding President Musharraf into easing the transition to a democratic political order in Pakistan. She rightly believes that this can come about only by making him part of the process.
The crises that Pakistan is presently facing will brook no luxury of destabilising rallies and street marches; instability already is too pandemic. Let political leadership across the board rise above personal considerations and meet in a kind of APC with military leadership willing, to surrender to the will of the nation reflected through free and fair general elections. To this there is just no alternative.
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