ISAS Briefs

Pakistan is going through a difficult period. It has vacillated between democracy and military throughout its history and entered the 21st century under military rule. At present moment, it is at the epicentre of a tumultuous geo-political climate and is besieged by domestic crises that have strained Pakistani politics to its limits. Pakistan’s embattled President General Musharraf has been forced into negotiating a power-sharing agreement with former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto in a desperate attempt to survive. Yet, this deal, even if politically possible, is shrouded in legal clouds. There is a Supreme Court challenge to the legitimacy of General Musharraf’s presidency; it remains unclear if Bhutto, who has returned to Pakistan after eight years of self imposed exile, will be able to contest elections as Prime Minister for the third time due to constitutional amendments limiting prime ministership to two terms and, most importantly, the future of Article 58(2) (b) which empowers the President to dismiss the Prime Minister hangs in limbo. The declaration of emergency rule over the weekend, the suspension of the Constitution and the deployment of troops across the capital have thrown Pakistan into further turmoil.