Reinstatement of chief justice adds uncertainty in Pakistan
On the one hand, the return of Pakistan’s chief justice, Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, who had been deposed by former military ruler Pervez Musharraf, is a victory for democracy in that troubled nation. On the other hand, Chaudhry’s reinstatement to the court could further weaken the government of President Asif Ali Zardari, who had initially refused demands from the nation’s legal community. Zardari gave in after huge street demonstrations,
It has been widely reported the president had pledged to restore Chaudhry to his position within 30 days of taking office, but that he broke the promise out of concern the chief justice would investigate a deal he and his wife, the late Benazir Bhutto, struck with Gen. Musharraf.
Zardari and Bhutto, who was assassinated in December 2007 during a campaign rally, were granted immunity from prosecution over alleged corruption cases.
This political turmoil could not have come at a worse time for Pakistan. Islamic extremists are gaining footholds in major population areas, while the Taliban and al-Qaida continue to conduct military operations in Afghanistan from camps established in the mountainous border between Pakistan and Afghanistan.
The Taliban is intent on returning to power in Kabul by ousting the democratically elected government of President Hamid Karzai, while al-Qaida, led by Osama bin Laden, continues to be involved in terrorist activities around the world.
Nuclear weapons
The prospect of a nuclear armed nation like Pakistan coming under the control of Islamic extremists who want to establish a theocracy similar to the one in Iran is cause for concern not only in that part of the globe, but in the United States.
Pakistan’s long-time rival, India, also has nuclear weapons and the ability to deliver them. And given that the two countries have already fought three wars, it would not take much to ignite another clash.
India, which is Hindu but has the second largest Muslim population in the world after Indonesia, would not be comforted by having an Islamic theocracy across the border.
It is important, therefore, for the United States to do all it can to prop up the democratically elected government in Islamabad. But the Obama administration may have a credibility problem if it backs Zardari in the midst of a supreme court investigation into the allegations of corruption.
Nawaz Sharif, the opposition leader whose political standing has been bolstered by the reinstatement of Chief Justice Chaudhry, was viewed with suspicion by the administration of George W. Bush because of the belief that he was too close to Islamic clerics and other conservatives.
President Obama should determine for himself whether Sharif can be counted on to fight the spread of Islamic extremism, the way Zardari is doing.
If the conclusion is that a Sharif government would undermine Pakistan’s role as the United States’ leading ally in the fight against global terrorism, then the White House would do well to find some other political leader who could replace Zardari should he be removed from office.