Nawazs stand against Musharraf carries serious political risks: US paper

Former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharifs tough stand against President Pervez Musharraf is filled with serious political risks, a leading US newspaper has said.

New York, Sep 6 : Former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's tough stand against President Pervez Musharraf is filled with serious political risks, a leading US newspaper has said.

A confrontation with the government could incite more violence and allow the army to re-assert control over Pakistan, it said.

"That Sharif is now in a possible position to determine Pakistan's fate marks the latest chapter in a long political career during which he has often benefited from going along with the military -- not against it," the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) said.

"A scion of one of the country's richest business families from Lahore, Sharif was groomed by military ruler Zia-ul-Haq. In 1981, when he was 31 years old, Sharif left his father's steel business to become Finance Minister of Punjab. Four years later, he became Punjab's Chief Minister, or top civil servant, during a period of martial law," the WSJ said.

The WSJ said that Sharif's political fortunes had soared recently after he fashioned himself as a champion of democratic rule at a time when Musharraf's political stock has plummeted, forcing the General to seek an alliance with another old foe, Bhutto.

The paper said that Sharif's supporters believe that he fits into Pakistan's moderate middle that many Western governments find politically palatable.

His pro-business policies and stance on anti-terrorism would make Pakistan a better ally of the US than it is now under Musharraf, they argue.

But the US has been much more actively encouraging a deal between Musharraf and Bhutto.

However, the US officials told the WSJ that "they increasingly realise that a political deal between Musharraf and Bhutto could play into Sharif's hands, at least in the short term".

Many current and former US officials express similar concerns about Sharif's return to Pakistani politics as they do about Bhutto's, viewing him as an indecisive leader whose earlier governments tolerated corruption and undermined Pakistan's economy.

However, writing about Mr Sharif's own record while in power, the WSJ said: "In office, Mr Sharif wasn't renowned for his protection of basic freedoms."

ANI