Why Musharraf Sacked Pak’s Chief Justice?

This cartoon appeared in Le Monde.

There is a lot of speculation as to why President Musharraf sacked Pakistan’s Chief Justice. But it is becoming clear that by taking this harsh step, and brutally suppressing his detractors, his credibility as a somewhat tolerant military dictator has received a serious setback.

The General seems to be losing fast his middle-class constituency/supporters and could now hope to remain in his hot seat with the munificence of his friend President Bush and, unfortunately, Islamist hardliners. This development may further fuel anti-US sentiment in Pakistan.

Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, the Chief Justice of the Pakistan Supreme Court, was placed under suspension by Pakistan’s Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) on March 9,2007, following the receipt of a complaint from President General Pervez Musharraf accusing him of ‘misconduct and misuse of authority’.

Some say that Musharraf feared that the independent-minded judge would not accept any move by him to retain his role as army chief, which constitutionally he should give up this year when general elections are scheduled to take place in the country.

To learn more about the drama preceding the sacking of the Chief Justice and an in-depth analysis please click here…

Here is another article on Mushraaf’s choices by By Dr Subhash Kapila, Consultant, Strategic Affairs with South Asia Analysis Group. He writes: “Pakistan’s wheel of fortune in terms of strategic choices and policies has turned a full circle. It has enjoyed American munificence of nearly $ 30 billion of being a rental state.

“The United States due to contextual circumstances has now been forced to give an ultimatum to Pakistan and General Musharraf to act on their pledges.

“General Musharraf today stands confronted with a stark choice, that is, either to confront the United States or to confront the Taliban forcefully. He cannot do either.

“Then what does General Musharraf do? Reinvent his strategic utility for the United States by offering Pakistan as the main base for US military offensives against Iran?”

To read the full article please click here…

Here’s another interesting article on US-Pakistan alignment: “In the Pentagon and in the Defence Intelligence Agency, where nostalgia for the good old days of fighting together against the Soviet troops in Afghanistan, plays no role in policy-making, decisions are taken on a cool-headed calculation of what would bring victory or at least avoid defeat. They seem to have come to the conclusion that Musharraf is not helping them to win.

“Only in the Central Intelligence Agency and in the community of retired civilian intelligence officers, where nostalgia for the past is very strong, is the opinion divided.”

Now a Pakistani blog’s reactions to the Chief Justice issue. Have a look… You can also see wide video coverage of the episode, but you have to explore this blog a little. Worth it.