Few options for Musharraf, says Time

Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf, who has made a career of extricating himself from tight spots, has few viable options left to overcome the present turmoil, according to Time magazine.

Washington, Aug 29 : Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf, who has made a career of extricating himself from tight spots, has few viable options left to overcome the present turmoil, according to Time magazine.

According to the weekly, Musharraf has three options for him that include, contesting the presidential polls on its own, declaring martial law or contesting the Presidential polls in alliance with former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto.

However, given Musharraf's growing unpopularity among the masses, the first option of going to polls alone would be detrimental to him, as he is unlikely to succeed.

"Musharraf faces not only the legal hassles of securing his nomination, but also his massive unpopularity," the weekly stated and attributed a recent survey to point out rising discontent against Musharraf among the country's populace.

A recent survey conducted by the US backed group the International Republican Institute, 59 per cent of Pakistanis think their country is headed in the wrong direction, up from 38 per cent in June 2006, while 63 per cent of people believe that Musharraf should resign.

Many Pakistanis see their President as an American puppet, a perception exacerbated by the fact that he has failed miserably in convincing Pakistanis that terrorism threatens them just as much as it does Americans, according to the report.

The second option for Musharraf to declare a martial law in the country does not seem very remote in spite of US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice reportedly discouraging Musharraf from doing so.

The magazine states that this option, though a possibility, would be a difficult choice since the military is not happy with the General either.

The best bet for Musharraf would be to go to the polls in alliance with Bhutto, the talks for hammering a deal is already going on.

"There are dangers in this strategy, not least the role of the Supreme Court, which could still stop Musharraf running again or hinder Bhutto's return from self-imposed exile, or both, the weekly states, adding that Bhutto's popularity has taken a hit since talk of a tie-up with Musharraf broke and after the Supreme Court allowed the return of the exiled leader Nawaz Sharif.

ANI