First Punjab and now NWFP (140820008)

First the provincial assembly of Punjab overwhelmingly voted to demand that the President seek a fresh vote of confidence and if he fails to do so then the National Assembly should impeach him. This jolt was followed up by another tremor when the NWFP assembly also overwhelmingly voted on the same lines as Punjab. One could argue that both these provinces had a grudge because it was the government of Nawaz Sharif which was removed by General Musharraf and the province of NWFP has suffered the most under General Musharraf's policies and war on terror. However, what is really shocking is the few numbers, the PML-Q, President's party, has been able to muster in these developments. Notwithstanding; the loud claims and the vociferous defence of the President by some of his supporters who have greatly benefited in past eight years; the writing is on the wall.
According to the rumours, the President was planning some games of his own in Sindh; the indications from the emerging media reports late Tuesday night were that the MQM, a party who has reaped the greatest benefit during past eight years, is standing by the President. With the resignation of Amin Fahim's son from the Sindh assembly, the speculation was abound about PPP getting a surprise in Sindh. If that was to happen then this will no doubt jolt PPP to the core, as Sindh is bastion of its power and claim to fame. This will also mean that PPP has in essence failed to unite its own rank and file, while the other coalition parties are firmly united behind their leaders. However, the chances of PPP failing to muster enough support in Sindh are not very high, though numbers may not be as favourable for PPP in Sindh as in Punjab.
But even if the results in Sindh were not favourable or as favourable as the other two provinces, the ground realities will not change. The President has become unpopular for a variety of reasons and has outlived his utility as a leader who can unite the country or someone who can deliver to USA what they want. It was reported that the American Ambassador was trying to arrange a graceful exit for President Musharraf but PMLN leader was not in favour of it. In all fairness, President Musharraf should be tried for all he has done, including the plight of Dr. Aafia Siddiqui, her three children, hundreds of missing persons, killings of Pakistani citizens in thousands including in Hafsa Seminary and the Red Mosque, not to mention for the subversion of the constitution of Pakistan. But the punishment should not only be of General Musharraf but also of those who have made it possible for him, his cohorts in uniform or in civvies, like the judges who endorsed his coup and the politicians who gave him legitimacy.