NEW YORK: A leading American newspaper on Saturday urged President Pervez Musharraf, who is facing impeachment by the ruling coalition, to resign and quit politics. “Impeachment, which has never happened to a president in Pakistan, would be a long fall for Mr. Musharraf,” The New York Times said in an editorial: Musharraf Under Fire.
“The process (of impeachment), which Mr. Musharraf helped accelerate by threatening to dismiss Parliament, could well be protracted,” The Times said, while emphasizing that the issue must be resolved “with speed and respect for democracy.”
“He (Musharraf) would do everyone a favour if he agreed to resign and left politics,” it added.
The Times also urged Musharraf’s former army colleagues not to stage another coup to protect him. “His successor as military chief, Gen. Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, has distinguished himself by promising repeatedly that the army would stay out of politics. Keeping that promise is vital,” the editorial said.
“Similarly, President (George W.) Bush, who for too long enabled Mr. Musharraf and undercut democracy in Pakistan, must resist any temptation to intervene on the former generals behalf. That would further alienate Pakistanis and fuel instability.
“There are no quick and easy fixes for Pakistan, but it will have no chance if its civilian leaders, its army and the United States do not work together to build more effective democratic governance, an economic future and a coordinated plan for routing the Taliban and Al Qaeda.”
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