The News (August 19) covers the reactions of various sections of Pakistani society to Musharraf’s resignation. Reporting political responses, the paper quotes Nawaz Sharif calling the resignation a “victory for the people of Pakistan”. It goes on to say that Sharif is adamant about not giving a safe exit to Musharraf. Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain of the PML-Q welcomed the move, while Imran Khan described Musharraf’s speech as a “bundle of lies”.

Another PML-N leader, Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, said that “all political parties, civil society and lawyers deserved credit for forcing Musharraf to resign”. Another report on public reaction in The News describes celebrations on the streets, including the distribution of sweets and dancing. Interestingly, according to the report, “the majority of people interviewed by ‘The News’ were of the opinion that Pervez Musharraf should be tried in court for violating the constitution, killing of hundreds of students of the Jamia Hafsa, killing of Baloch leader Akbar Bugti.”

Economic cheer

And it’s not just Pakistani politicians and citizens who were jubilant at Musharraf’s resignation — so was the Karachi stock exchange. Dawn reports that “an instant reaction was seen in the stock exchange where the trading was brisk that pushed index by 461 points. In the currency market, rupee gained some lustre as its parity with dollar was noted at Rs75.70 in open market and Rs75.60 in inter-bank”.

Clean getaway?

Dawn (August 19) quotes Supreme Court Bar Association president Aitzaz Ahsan stating that “former president Pervez Musharraf should be tried for ‘his crimes’”. According to another report in Dawn (August 20), while PML-Q members are for a safe exit to Musharraf who left with grace, PML-N leaders feel that he should be punished for his deeds. Ahsan Iqbal of the PML-N was quoted as saying in The News (August 19) that the “main impediment” to Pakistan’s growth had gone.

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