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Impeachment move splits Pak media
WSN Network
ISLAMABAD: The decision by Pakistan's governing
coalition to begin impeachment proceedings against President Pervez
Musharraf aroused a mixed response in the local press.
While both English and Urdu language papers agreed it was time for
Mr Musharraf to go, several of the main English-language papers
viewed the impeachment bid negatively, describing it as a cynical
tussle by politicans vying for Mr Musharraf's job and pointing out
that the government had no long-term strategy.
However, in the Urdu-language press, some papers praised the
government for trying to fulfil the expectations of the electorate
and working towards a "new Pakistan".
English Newspapers
PAKISTAN OBSERVER
The decision of the ruling coalition... amounts to making a plunge
into darkness and that too at a time when the country was in dire
need of national unity and cohesion to ward off threats to its
security and integrity¿ The political turbulence that might
accompany the process of impeachment would further poison the
atmosphere and accelerate the downslide to the amusement of our
enemies.
THE NEWS
The politicians shouting for his ouster want him out so that they
can tussle for his job - the altruism that apparently drives their
efforts is as phoney as most things political in Pakistan; this is
about power, who has it and who wields it. At a more humble level it
is clear to a majority of ordinary people that the president has
gone past his sell-by date.
DAWN
Unless something out of the ordinary happens, President Pervez
Musharraf's political fate has been sealed¿ What the PPP and PML-N
leaders should know is that President Musharraf's removal from the
scene will merely remove a perceived hindrance in the way of good
governance. Unfortunately, there is no evidence that the coalition
partners have bothered so far to draw up a comprehensive development
strategy focusing on long-and short-term goals.
THE NATION
Now that the coalition has decided that the president's removal from
office would precede the judges' restoration, it is to be hoped it
would wholeheartedly work to realise these objectives and succeed¿
Now that the differences between the two major political parties
appear set for resolution, it is to be hoped that their leaderships
would do all they can to... address the manifold problems of the
people.
Urdu Newspapers
Pakistan's ruling parties have agreed to impeach President Musharraf
first and then restore the deposed judges. We believe the ruling
alliance is... trying to meet the people's expectations. If any
misadventure is attempted by the presidency at this stage, the
country will fall into anarchy. Everyone should play a positive role
at this juncture.
EXPRESS NAWA-I-WAQT
We believe President Musharraf should read the writing on the wall
and withdraw honourably. If he is removed in a constitutional
manner, he might face a court trial for the Kargil operation and the
2 November imposition of martial law... This would not be a pleasant
situation for him.
AUSAF
We believe when the judges are restored and the country gets rid of
President Musharraf, a new Pakistan will come into being where the
ruling junta will address public problems in a better way. It is the
right of the people that the coalition government focuses its
attention on core issues and buries their mutual differences.
13 August, 2008
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