Two days after the Supreme Court of Pakistan cleared the decks for the return of exiled former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, political euphoria is ascending like never before with chants of democracy returns becoming more shriller on the streets of Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi.
Islamabad, Aug 25 : Two days after the Supreme Court of Pakistan cleared the decks for the return of exiled former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, political euphoria is ascending like never before with chants of 'democracy returns' becoming more shriller on the streets of Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi.
Sharif is returning 'within a week' but his party Pakistan Muslim League (PML) is already mulling over going back to the apex court, in case Sharif is taken into detention as warned by some sections within the military regime.
Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf, during his interaction with a select group of journalists, said: "It is the need of the time that there is political stability, political reconciliation and a national consensus on issues confronting Pakistan," without showing any signs of government's frustration over the latest blow delivered by the Supreme Court.
While the President spoke about 'peace and stability' a senior cabinet minister, Sher Afgan Niazi, warned of imposing emergency rule, or draconian martial law if the situation 'worsens' with the return of Sharif.
A greater consensus among ruling politicians and analysts is that the President should form a caretaker government that would help in holding the Parliamentary elections and that Musharraf should not get himself elected by the present legislators.
"It is the only way for him to avoid the obstacles from the Supreme Court, and turbulence on the streets," the New York Times quoted a senior cabinet member, as saying on condition of anonymity.
Meanwhile, the idea of a consensus government received support from Benazir Bhutto, who has said that the government could comprise the trio of Musharraf, Sharif and herself.
Speaking to the Daily Times, Bhutto said that there was a possibility of internal reconciliation and Sharif had also recently made a statement on conditional cooperation with Musharraf, adding the President's military uniform is the biggest issue.
She said: "We are discussing a facilitated transfer to democracy through the holding of free and fair elections. We haven't reached an agreement yet, so I am not in a position to tell you where the negotiations are heading."
However, Bhutto has changed her own return plan and would like to reach Pakistan earlier than Sharif.
Once a bitter rival of Sharif, Bhutto is now welcoming the Supreme Court's decision on the former petitions, and said that the Sharif family had the right to return to Pakistan.
ANI