Excerpts: In a solemn ceremony at a stadium near military headquarters in Rawalpindi, a garrison city adjacent to Islamabad, the capital, the general handed over command to Gen. Ashfaq Kiani, a longtime loyalist. As the nation watched on live television, Musharraf, standing stiffly at attention in a full dress uniform, presented Kiani with the commander's baton, and the two shook hands.
Musharraf, 64, refused to leave the army until his new incarnation as a civilian leader was assured. Pakistan's Supreme Court, now made up of loyalists who were installed under emergency rule, last week threw out the remaining legal challenges to his reelection last month to a new five-year term as president. Full Story
Musharraf is one shrewd dude. Although he stood down as military leader and will be sworn in as a 2nd term civilian president, his whole game is all about giving them what they want in due time. He reinforces his power and influence with the people without igniting sanctions or full out war. The media speculate as to his losing power with the military but I don’t think he would have stepped down if this was the case. Smooth, hunh? Besides, with all the tears and somber faces, it seems as if he’ll be sorely missed. Although the international collective wants him to lift emergency rule, I’m sure he will not do this before the upcoming elections in January and he will lead them on until then. It would be interesting to see what actually goes down in January. Will he actually relinquish his position?
Musharraf, 64, refused to leave the army until his new incarnation as a civilian leader was assured. Pakistan's Supreme Court, now made up of loyalists who were installed under emergency rule, last week threw out the remaining legal challenges to his reelection last month to a new five-year term as president. Full Story
Musharraf is one shrewd dude. Although he stood down as military leader and will be sworn in as a 2nd term civilian president, his whole game is all about giving them what they want in due time. He reinforces his power and influence with the people without igniting sanctions or full out war. The media speculate as to his losing power with the military but I don’t think he would have stepped down if this was the case. Smooth, hunh? Besides, with all the tears and somber faces, it seems as if he’ll be sorely missed. Although the international collective wants him to lift emergency rule, I’m sure he will not do this before the upcoming elections in January and he will lead them on until then. It would be interesting to see what actually goes down in January. Will he actually relinquish his position?
