NBC News noted that ‘the military felt confident it would emerge as the survivor in all this, with Mr Zardari’s popularity now measured in the teens in almost every Pakistani public opinion poll’. *
The NBC News reported that in Pakistan the fate of President Asif Ali Zardari had become ‘a more profound issue’ than the suicide bombings that had killed hundreds of people and the ongoing military operation in South Waziristan.
The president, the report noted, was ‘engaged in a seemingly never-ending battles with the country’s powerful military and intelligence establishments’.
According to the US channel, President Zardari’s opponents had ‘begun raising the stakes, setting up what some are calling a ‘soft coup … a legislative coup’ – an attempt to force Mr Zardari out.’
End of NRO
The channel reported that the US had played a key role in arranging the National Reconciliation Ordinance, which would expire on Nov 28. The end of NRO would revive several cases against Mr Zardari and his associates, the report noted.
Experts told the channel that while they did not see the president stepping down after the NRO, they expected a constitutional crisis early next year, when the prosecutors would close in first on his aides, then on him.
‘One potential issue is whether Mr Zardari has presidential immunity for any crimes committed before he was elected. He may have it for his time in office, but it’s uncertain that he does for any crimes alleged before he assumed office,’ the report noted.
Rift in power structure
The report claimed that while US officials were alarmed by the development, it was not a surprise for them as they were aware of deep personal and professional differences between military and civilian leaders.
The television channel noted that while it was not clear how Mr Zardari would deal with the situation, ‘but he is certainly trying to get help from his allies in the US government’.
The report ruled out the possibility of a military takeover, but indicated that the army wanted a ‘government of national unity’, populated with technocrats.
Both fear Sharif
The report also noted that Mr Zardari would not want to fire the army chief because he understood that the consequences would be dire, ‘so there is a stalemate and no clear leadership’.
The NBC News observed that both Mr Zardari and the military feared ‘the charismatic but more religious Nawaz Sharif, and would band together to thwart any power play he might attempt’.
The report claimed that President Zardari had long been working on a plan to keep Mr Sharif out of power. Mr Sharif was banned from serving as head of government under a constitutional amendment pushed through by former President Musharraf.
Mr Zardari promised to remove the ban but hasn’t followed through.
Pakistani military officials told NBC News that their objections to the bill were not meant to cause troubles for the government. They were only trying to make clear that some clauses were detrimental to the long-term security of the country.
The officials claimed that none of the three drafts of the controversial bill ‘were ever discussed with anyone in the army or ISI.’
But one of Mr Zardari’s aides said the army chief had been briefed ‘in full and in person’ on the details of the bill.
‘If that was the case, however, why didn’t Mr Zardari leak the communications showing the military was briefed,’ asked one military official.
Summarising the conflict, the NBC News noted that ‘the military felt confident it would emerge as the survivor in all this, with Mr Zardari’s popularity now measured in the teens in almost every Pakistani public opinion poll’.
Monday, November 16, 2009
DTN News: Pakistan TODAY November 17, 2009 ~ Struggle For Supremacy In Pakistan Hurting US Interests
DTN News: Pakistan TODAY November 17, 2009 ~ Struggle For Supremacy In Pakistan Hurting US Interests
*Source: DTN News / Int'l Media
(NSI News Source Info) WASHINGTON, USA - November 17, 2009: Pakistan’s civilian and military leaders are engaged in a power struggle that is complicating America’s strategy to stabilise the Pak-Afghan region, a US television channel reported on Monday.NBC News noted that ‘the military felt confident it would emerge as the survivor in all this, with Mr Zardari’s popularity now measured in the teens in almost every Pakistani public opinion poll’. *
The NBC News reported that in Pakistan the fate of President Asif Ali Zardari had become ‘a more profound issue’ than the suicide bombings that had killed hundreds of people and the ongoing military operation in South Waziristan.
The president, the report noted, was ‘engaged in a seemingly never-ending battles with the country’s powerful military and intelligence establishments’.
According to the US channel, President Zardari’s opponents had ‘begun raising the stakes, setting up what some are calling a ‘soft coup … a legislative coup’ – an attempt to force Mr Zardari out.’
End of NRO
The channel reported that the US had played a key role in arranging the National Reconciliation Ordinance, which would expire on Nov 28. The end of NRO would revive several cases against Mr Zardari and his associates, the report noted.
Experts told the channel that while they did not see the president stepping down after the NRO, they expected a constitutional crisis early next year, when the prosecutors would close in first on his aides, then on him.
‘One potential issue is whether Mr Zardari has presidential immunity for any crimes committed before he was elected. He may have it for his time in office, but it’s uncertain that he does for any crimes alleged before he assumed office,’ the report noted.
Rift in power structure
The report claimed that while US officials were alarmed by the development, it was not a surprise for them as they were aware of deep personal and professional differences between military and civilian leaders.
The television channel noted that while it was not clear how Mr Zardari would deal with the situation, ‘but he is certainly trying to get help from his allies in the US government’.
The report ruled out the possibility of a military takeover, but indicated that the army wanted a ‘government of national unity’, populated with technocrats.
Both fear Sharif
The report also noted that Mr Zardari would not want to fire the army chief because he understood that the consequences would be dire, ‘so there is a stalemate and no clear leadership’.
The NBC News observed that both Mr Zardari and the military feared ‘the charismatic but more religious Nawaz Sharif, and would band together to thwart any power play he might attempt’.
The report claimed that President Zardari had long been working on a plan to keep Mr Sharif out of power. Mr Sharif was banned from serving as head of government under a constitutional amendment pushed through by former President Musharraf.
Mr Zardari promised to remove the ban but hasn’t followed through.
Pakistani military officials told NBC News that their objections to the bill were not meant to cause troubles for the government. They were only trying to make clear that some clauses were detrimental to the long-term security of the country.
The officials claimed that none of the three drafts of the controversial bill ‘were ever discussed with anyone in the army or ISI.’
But one of Mr Zardari’s aides said the army chief had been briefed ‘in full and in person’ on the details of the bill.
‘If that was the case, however, why didn’t Mr Zardari leak the communications showing the military was briefed,’ asked one military official.
Summarising the conflict, the NBC News noted that ‘the military felt confident it would emerge as the survivor in all this, with Mr Zardari’s popularity now measured in the teens in almost every Pakistani public opinion poll’.
NBC News noted that ‘the military felt confident it would emerge as the survivor in all this, with Mr Zardari’s popularity now measured in the teens in almost every Pakistani public opinion poll’. *
The NBC News reported that in Pakistan the fate of President Asif Ali Zardari had become ‘a more profound issue’ than the suicide bombings that had killed hundreds of people and the ongoing military operation in South Waziristan.
The president, the report noted, was ‘engaged in a seemingly never-ending battles with the country’s powerful military and intelligence establishments’.
According to the US channel, President Zardari’s opponents had ‘begun raising the stakes, setting up what some are calling a ‘soft coup … a legislative coup’ – an attempt to force Mr Zardari out.’
End of NRO
The channel reported that the US had played a key role in arranging the National Reconciliation Ordinance, which would expire on Nov 28. The end of NRO would revive several cases against Mr Zardari and his associates, the report noted.
Experts told the channel that while they did not see the president stepping down after the NRO, they expected a constitutional crisis early next year, when the prosecutors would close in first on his aides, then on him.
‘One potential issue is whether Mr Zardari has presidential immunity for any crimes committed before he was elected. He may have it for his time in office, but it’s uncertain that he does for any crimes alleged before he assumed office,’ the report noted.
Rift in power structure
The report claimed that while US officials were alarmed by the development, it was not a surprise for them as they were aware of deep personal and professional differences between military and civilian leaders.
The television channel noted that while it was not clear how Mr Zardari would deal with the situation, ‘but he is certainly trying to get help from his allies in the US government’.
The report ruled out the possibility of a military takeover, but indicated that the army wanted a ‘government of national unity’, populated with technocrats.
Both fear Sharif
The report also noted that Mr Zardari would not want to fire the army chief because he understood that the consequences would be dire, ‘so there is a stalemate and no clear leadership’.
The NBC News observed that both Mr Zardari and the military feared ‘the charismatic but more religious Nawaz Sharif, and would band together to thwart any power play he might attempt’.
The report claimed that President Zardari had long been working on a plan to keep Mr Sharif out of power. Mr Sharif was banned from serving as head of government under a constitutional amendment pushed through by former President Musharraf.
Mr Zardari promised to remove the ban but hasn’t followed through.
Pakistani military officials told NBC News that their objections to the bill were not meant to cause troubles for the government. They were only trying to make clear that some clauses were detrimental to the long-term security of the country.
The officials claimed that none of the three drafts of the controversial bill ‘were ever discussed with anyone in the army or ISI.’
But one of Mr Zardari’s aides said the army chief had been briefed ‘in full and in person’ on the details of the bill.
‘If that was the case, however, why didn’t Mr Zardari leak the communications showing the military was briefed,’ asked one military official.
Summarising the conflict, the NBC News noted that ‘the military felt confident it would emerge as the survivor in all this, with Mr Zardari’s popularity now measured in the teens in almost every Pakistani public opinion poll’.
No comments:
Post a Comment