News
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
US lawmaker warns against impeaching Musharraf
LAHORE: Impeaching President Pervez Musharraf could destablise Pakistan and postpone work required to establish an independent judiciary, crack down on terrorists and jumpstart development, according to an opinion piece published in the Wall Street Journal on Tuesday. Kay Bailey Hutchison, a US senator who recently visited Pakistan, notes that the country would be a stronger ally in the war on terror if there is a legitimate democratic government. Hutchison says that Pakistan’s ability to fight terrorism is weakened by the fragility of its constitutional order and “the impotence of its governing institutions”, adding that terrorists thrive when the government is seen as illegitimate by its people. Noting that all of Pakistan’s leaders are flawed, Hutchison says that they all — Asif Ali Zardari, Pervez Musharraf and Nawaz Sharif — have “redeeming qualities”. However, she expresses concern that the new coalition’s plan to reduce military operations against terrorists might mean that Pakistan’s efforts could slacken. She says that shifting the emphasis to helping the population with security and running water is fundamental to ending extremism. Hutchison says that the US will support Pakistan’s leaders as long as they support democracy. She says that a secular and democratic government, with US help, could turn Pakistan into an effective counter-terrorism force. daily times monitor
Courtesy Daily Times