Musharraf mulls over his options as Benazir returns

HOMECOMING: Lakhs gathered in Karachi as Benazir Bhutto came back to Pakistan after 8 years in exile.

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Keywords: Pakistan, Pervez Musharraf

New Delhi: Exile has not weakened the core of her support – that was the message in Pakistan as PPP supporters turned out in thousands to welcome Benazir Bhutto.

It was an impressive show of strength on Thursday morning, something that Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf would have observed and understood.

But that's as far as it goes, the fact remains that Musharraf allowed Benazir to come back and even let a rally take place to strengthen her support. And if the judiciary declares this as unconstitutional, there is the amnesty ordinance that gives Benazir relief from corruption charges but the General could demand a high price from her for withdrawing the charges.

Meanwhile, the current sentiment in the US helps Musharraf.

“I do think that in the US there has been an awareness that Musharraf is not the man many thought he was and I think this is gradually moving towards strengthening him. And strengthening is not by dumping him but by urging him to build a broader coalition,” Pakistani affairs analyst, Steve Cohen said.

It also helps Benazir as the US pushes Musharraf to join hands with her. Musharraf is also trying to build alliances with Pashtuns in Sind and Balochistan who have usually voted for religious parties.

There are even unconfirmed reports in some sections of the Pakistani media of backchannel talks with exiled Pakistan prime minister Nawaz Sharif, the man whom Musharraf overthrew in a coup in 1999.

But there are judicial clouds ahead – a bench is hearing arguments over Musharraf’s re-election. If the ruling goes against him he has indicated he will remain army chief but for how much longer is not clear.