The Pakistani Spectator

The establishment is unable to cook Mixed Vegetables this time because of the international pressures, no involvement of army vigilant eye of the contesters of the elections on electoral process.

In results of almost free and fair elections the voters elected those parties who remained effected by Musharraf’s actions. PPP’s stance is a bit cool but the PML(N) is not going to deal with him as he over-thrown Nawaz Government, so the wounds are still alive.

On November 15th 2007, President Musharraf had resigned as Chief of Army Staff and appointed General Ishfaq Kiyani as new COAS, therefore, the source of power as COAS is no more in the hands of the President.

The only real threat to the new assembly is the constitution article 58-II.b generally known as 8th Amendment in the 1973 constitution. This amendment gives power to the President to dissolve national assembly.

The newly elected assembly is may not validate the imposition of emergency on Nov 3rd, 2007 and disposition of judges of superior courts and the future actions of the President. Any action in Wana, Waziristan, war on terror, foreign policy, internal policies etc shall have to be vetting or if I say shall be initiated by the national assembly as per nation’s will and not from the army house or presidency, then it would be hard for the president to resist. In case of resistance between the president and the national assembly may trigger the need to use the last option 58-II.b.

In case dissolution of national assembly anti-Musharraf turnout will increase and the seats of PML(Q) and its allies will decrease. So the last source of power is not that power full for the president.

Last 5 posts by Farid Masood

• TPS in Islamabad Bloggers Meet-Up - January 3rd, 2009
• Who Will Reduce Edible Oil Prices - December 28th, 2008
• Selling of Nukes Production Facility - December 24th, 2008
• India Desperately Needs a War - December 21st, 2008
• Foreign Policies’ Impacts - December 19th, 2008