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| India-Pakistan |
| (Dis)information and rumours in capital |
| 2007-04-07 |
| Islamabad is rife with rumours and pundits are busy speculating a “major change” at the top. The whispers prompted the presidency, a top military commander and the new information secretary to deny the prime minister was on his way out. “We have not even imagined any such thing,” a presidential spokesman was reported as saying. But the rumour-mongers insist that it is a matter of days. They even quote unnamed “well-connected” sources that it’s time for a change. Though there are no apparent reasons for any “wrap-up” because the working relationship between Gen Musharraf and PM Aziz is “very cordial”, the judicial crisis along with the “Talibanisation” of Islamabad and a govt-PPP squabble over a “deal” or “dheel” are the topics of “drawing-room” discussions. The NAB silence on the transfer of Hasan Wasim Afzal and Chaudhry Shujaat’s acceptance that Afzal has been transferred on Benazir’s complaint, support the speculations. While Shujaat and Information Minister Durrani have rejected the possibility of any deal with Benazir and her PPP before the general elections, two close-to-the-presidency federal ministers insist on a covert deal, predicting a “breakthrough” in the near future. Babar Ghauri confirmed that “negotiations” between representatives of Musharraf and Benazir were continuing, and NSC Secretary Tariq Aziz met Benazir in Dubai two days ago. Shaikh Rashid insists the issue has now moved from the “quarter-final to the semi-final”. But PPP’s Sherry Rehman says there is no truth in the ministers’ statements and that the closure of Afzal-headed NAB office is aimed at providing some relief to the party. In fact, the speculations and (dis)informations started with Musharraf telling PML leaders last week to confront those exploiting the judicial crisis and leave the PPP to him, followed by Benazir’s admission of back-channel contacts with the regime. |
| Posted by:Fred |