WORLD> Asia-Pacific
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WORLD> Asia-Pacific
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Uncertainties linger after Musharraf's resignation
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-08-19 23:41 In a statement released on Monday, the White House said Bush "appreciates President Musharraf's efforts in the democratic transition of Pakistan as well as his commitment to fighting al-Qaeda and extremist groups." Bush "looks forward to working with the government of Pakistan on the economic, political and security challenges they face," the US National Security Council spokesman Gordon Johndroe said in the statement. Challenges and uncertainties ahead Zardari has said PPP is the majority party and has the right to appoint its own president once Musharraf was gone. A short while after Musharraf' resignation, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said the next Pakistani President would be from PPP. At the same time, the PML-N was mulling nominating its own presidential candidate. The competition for the office of President offers people a glimpse of possible clashes between the two coalition partners in the future. Zardari conceded in a recent interview with Dawn News TV channel that political differences between the PPP and the PML-N were bound to emerge after Musharraf's removal. The PPP and PML-N, two traditional rival parties, will not easily find a way to share power, analysts said. Critics accused the coalition government of failing to resolve the pressing issues faced by the masses. Currently Pakistan is suffering from price hikes, surging oil prices, power shortage and the escalation of militancy. They said the newly-elected government did nothing to improve the situation during its four-month rule. Whenever the government is blamed for economic problems, the government officials will complain that they inherited problems from Musharraf and the ex-government. As Musharraf resigned, the coalition government will have to face the accusations themselves. If they fail to solve the problems, feelings of doubt and mistrust will arise. |
