Prime minister Zafarullah Jamaliâs dramatic resignation exposes the hollowness of the democratic set-up installed by President General Pervez Musharraf only two years ago, Pakistani analysts and opposition leaders said.
| I think any democratic process Pakland has indulged in since 1947 has been pretty fragile. I don't think they quite grasp the concept... |
The resignation was âforcedâ and raises concerns about the stability of the civilian rule restored after three years of military dictatorship, they said.
| Somebody's got to drive the bus. When the prime minister's ineffective or corrupt, it's the head of state's job to dump him/her/it and try somebody else... |
He also announced the dissolution of the cabinet and nomination of PML president Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain as his interim successor, to be followed some two months later by outgoing finance minister Shaukat Aziz. Aziz, a former Citibank official, credited for taking the country out of economic crisis, is considered a close confidant of Musharraf. Political analyst Hassan Askari said Jamali simply obeyed Musharraf. âHe stepped down under instruction from the presidential house. The parliament and the ruling coalition had no role in effecting this change,â Askari told AFP. âThe change confirms the presidentâs centrality to the political process and his ability to manipulate it according to his wishes.â
| For all his faults, Perv, has some pretty horrible opposition. MMA spends most of its time obstructing and maneuvering. Qazi and Fazl have a completely different concept of what a country should be... |
Askari said there was no obvious justification for the removal of Jamali, who was handpicked by Musharraf. âThere was no political crisis and there was no revolt in the party,â he said. âThis exposes the weakness and hollowness of the civil institutions established after the 2002 elections.â
| I'm hoping Jamali was dumped because he wasn't ruthless enough, but that's probably too much to hope for... |
Jamali stressed that his government was unblemished. âThere is no charge on me or my cabinet colleagues. My intention was pious and my conscience is clear.â
| He's the first Pak PM I can think of who hasn't been mired in corruption... |
However, the burly 60-year old tribal elder from poor Baluchistan province was seen by many as docile and overshadowed by Musharraf, who is also the chief of the army. Jamali was âslowâ in taking decisions and Musharraf, facing tough parliamentary opposition, perhaps wanted a dynamic person, Askari said.
| "Dynamic" would be another word for "ruthless," I'm thinking... |
Analyst Mohammad Afzal Niazi said Jamali âfailed to deliver political support to Musharraf to remain in uniform.â Musharraf, who has emerged as a key ally in the US-led war on terror, sought a parliamentary confidence vote in January to rule until 2007 and remain the military chief until December this year. His authority as army chief is considered vital in Pakistanâs anti-terrorist campaign which has netted more than 500 Al Qaeda suspects, the majority of whom had been handed over to the US custody. Both the Islamic alliance and the main opposition Pakistan Peopleâs Party (PPP) lashed out at Musharraf over Jamaliâs exit. âWho says Jamali tendered his resignation -- he has been forced to do it,â senior MMA leader Hafiz Hussain Ahmed told AFP. The PPP said the change âdemonstrated that the military leadership never accepted the civilian and political set-up, even if that set-up was artificially created by them.â It also showed the system was âunstable and resting on sandy foundationsâ. The ruling partyâs secretary general, Senator Mushahid Hussain, dismissed the criticism. Jamaliâs âhonourable and dignified exit augurs well for democracy,â he said adding that the PML had set âa new and healthy tradition of smooth transition.â |