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How easy is Nawaz Sharif’s task?

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By K.N. Pandita

Nawaz Sharif’s task is not easy. His party’s numerical strength facilitates him but does not mandate him to force solution of the issues of long or short standing.

Power scarcity, economic recession, TTP menace, civilian-army strained relations, Afghan crisis, Indo-Pak tensions, ethno-sectarian crimes and Pak-American relations all are on his priority list. In short, he has to fight at economic, domestic and foreign fronts.

Astute diplomacy and political finesse are the instruments to tackle these issues. Pakistan has no dearth of eminent persons who know how to run civil administration. Nawaz Sharif will have a galaxy of advisers and bureaucrats around him to shape and support his policy and decisions.   Continue Reading…

Is Pakistan out of woods?

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By K.N. Pandita

Elections to Pakistan National Assembly have come to an end.  PML (N) emerges as the single largest part bagging 118 seats out of a total of 272.  Its closest rival the outgoing PPP has bagged 35 seats while the runner up Tehreek-i-Insaf of cricketer turned politician Imran Khan has captured 34 seats, one short of PPP’s count. Strangely Jamaat-e-Islami has won just 4 seats only.

No party has absolute majority which is 172 votes. Mian Nawaz Sharif of PML (N) will be invited to form the government. But obviously, it has to be a coalition government. PML (N) will require 54 votes to make the coalition form absolute majority. Probable parties to form the coalition with the PML (N) would be PTI (34 seats), JUI (12 seats). But still it will need 8 votes to make absolute majority. PPP and MQM are unlikely to join the coalition.   Continue Reading…

Bizarre case of Pervez Musharraf

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By K.N. Pandita

Political punditry has a host of questions on Musharraf’s leap in the dark. He was over-confident and took the risk. Yet he was dismally mistaken.
Some say he wanted to carry forward Pakistani army’s agenda of creating a civil face for itself? It met with public ire after its incompetence was exposed in Osama operation. Whether the army was an accomplice in Osama operation or not is a moot point. However, its denial brought it a mix of shame and unpopularity.

Pakistan army authority thereafter has been effectively challenged. Apart from loosing public support, its double-speak on war on terror lost her the semblance American goodwill. Recall General Petrause’s tantrum. To make things worse, Pakistan was pushed to economic crunch. These factors cumulatively took the wind out of Army’s sails. Frustrated Kayani is taken nothing more than a paper tiger.   Continue Reading…