May 5th, 2008 by Amanda

Pakistan’s PPP and PML-N parties will vote on legislation on May 12th to reinstate the 60 judges dismissed by Musharraf last November, leaving questions about his future status as president. Joshua Keating at FP Passport notes that while Nawaz Sharif (PML-N) would like to see an immediate reinstatement Asif Zardari (PPP) “wants to gradually erode Musharraf’s power through legislation, and worries that an injunction against the president will be meaningless if the military doesn’t play along.”

At the Daily Star Arif Rafiq suggests a redefined American relationship with the new Pakistani government . He states that “in a democratic Pakistan, decision-making will be less centralized and more representative of public opinion,” and that the U.S. must engage the Pakistani people. “Failure to do so in the Bush administration’s remaining months could cause irreparable harm to Washington’s relationship with Pakistan.”

Posted in Diplomacy, Legislation, Pakistan, Political Parties, US foreign policy |