Now if the election goes ahead the PPP is expected to sweep and if there is an understanding with Nawaz Sharif’s Muslim League (N), as many say there is, then the two could come together with a big enough majority to impeach Musharraf. There is talk of this as there is talk of the need for the ex-General to hang up his boots.

Rarely has anyone in public life lost popularity as rapidly as Musharraf has. As military dictators go he was relatively popular for most of the ten years he has been in power. Good things happened on his watch and people noticed. He allowed the media more freedom than it had ever known and his free market economic policies brought visible economic benefits.

It was only when he sacked the Chief Justice last March that the trouble started. Lawyers took to the streets to demand judicial independence and their movement quickly enveloped other areas of civil society. Within months Musharraf was under such sustained siege that the American state department was forced to get actively involved in persuading their favourite military dictator to do something to improve his democratic credentials. It was as a result of this that Benazir Bhutto returned to Pakistan and became the country’s leading symbol of democracy. With all her flaws she was seen as Pakistan’s only real political leader.

With her dead, is democracy still possible? On this, there are two views. Some like the human rights activist, Asma Jehangir, believe that real democracy will not be possible until there is another political leader as charismatic as Benazir. Others believe that the terrible tragedy of Benazir Bhutto’s death has made ordinary Pakistanis even more determined to continue the fight for democracy. There is a sense that there has to be something evil in a regime that could not prevent the assassination of Benazir. Why was more not done to investigate the first attack on her procession last October in Karachi? Why was she so badly protected that a man with a pistol could get so close to her?

... contd.