By: DR FAROOQ HASSAN

The Bush administration until recently backed Musharraf, because it needed him in its War on Terror. However, it was realised in time that it is wrong to think that support for the rule of law in Pakistan is at variance with the war against terrorists. Backing Musharraf, and his martial law, only increases the animosity of most Pakistanis towards the United States, animosity that makes Pakistanis less likely to support a campaign against their own version of jihadi or extremist movements that the American’s desire desperately to be controlled.

The president soon after leaving his army job appeared on an American Morning TV show and bitterly lamented Washington and the West for not understanding him! He criticised Bush for publicly asking him to ‘fulfil’ his pledge to leave his army chief’s position, a promise he had broken thrice before. His criticism by UK and the 53 member Commonwealth for suspending Pakistan until emergency is reversed perturbed him greatly.

President Bush categorised Musharraf’s departure from the army as ‘an important first step’ but added significantly that ‘more needs to be done’ to ensure elections scheduled for January 8, are ‘free and fair’. This US and international pressure bore fruit since the emergency is scheduled to be lifted on December 16, 2007.

For winning the support of the Pakistani people, Bush would be much better advised to ask Musharraf to lift the emergency, restore the constitution along with the illegally removed judiciary and to resign from the office of president. That would set in motion a process that has a much better chance of strengthening the anti-terrorist effort and restoring Pakistani respect for the United States.

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Read the whole essay here.

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