NO DESPERADO

President Pervez Musharraf of Pakistan is caught between stools. Staging a coup and seizing power by banishing the civilian government five years ago, he pledged to step down in favor of elected representatives.

This was when the whole world frowned at him on another military dictator coming to power in Pakistan. Leaders demanded he set the timetable. Pervez was obliged. He called the National Assembly elections under a new constitution. Its 17^th amendment expressly said he would remain leader as President but would step down as the army chief by the end of this year.

Pervez now is told to honor the commitment. But he is not willing now.

Last month he told 96 per cent of his people want him to be the Army Chief-cum-President. He did not say if that is indefinite. But certainly it is to be that past the set deadline of December 31, 2004.

Islamic Alliance of fundamentalists, which is dominant in the National Assembly, is vehemently opposed to it. What’s more, although President, Pervez cannot enforce the change. Even the military dictator must honor the national assembly, after having elected it to government.

So the national assembly having passed the Constitutional amendment to have him out as Army Chief on December 31 is meeting now to pass another Constitutional amendment annulling the earlier one and continuing with Pervez as Army Chief along with President after the end of this year.

But from dictator Pervez has turned demagogue claiming 96 per cent support of his people. Why not be a leader then and be with them a commoner instead of military general?

Good question the man-on-the-street may say. But the commoner also knows the answer perhaps. So does Pervez certainly.

Even as demagogue Musharraf does not want to be a desperado.

For all one knows the day he hands over military command he may be kicked out as President.