The Musharraf Presidency

**Admin** · Subject: The Musharraf Presidency Sun Apr 29, 2007 1:34 pm

In June 2001 Musharraf named himself president, while continuing to head the army. He dismissed Tarar, who had been largely functioning as a ceremonial president, and dissolved parliament. Two months later he announced that new elections to the federal legislature, and to a number of provincial legislatures, would be held from October 1 to 11, 2002. Musharraf also hinted at further changes to the constitution by 2002 in an attempt to move the country back towards democracy. In this vein he announced a ban on two militant Islamic organizations.

Following the terrorist attacks on New York and Washington on September 11, Pakistan joined the broad coalition of nations condemning the atrocity and supporting action against those responsible for the attacks as well as those nations responsible for sheltering the terrorists. Musharraf condemned the Taliban government in neighbouring Afghanistan for protecting the prime suspect, Osama bin Laden and his Al-Qaeda network. As one of only three nations previously to recognize the legitimacy of the Taliban government, Pakistan’s influence in the region was felt crucial to negotiating with the Taliban for the extradition of Bin Laden. However, after weeks of diplomatic negotiations, including talks with the UK prime minister Tony Blair, the resulting stalemate over the Bin Laden issue hastened the deployment of troops and arms to the region. After US and coalition air strikes on Afghanistan in mid-October, demonstrations against the US aggression took place in Pakistan, leading to several deaths. Musharraf denounced the protestations and ordered a clampdown on Taliban sympathizers in Pakistan. Musharraf also faced a refugee crisis in the country: since the 1979 Russian invasion of Afghanistan it is estimated that over 2.5 million refugees have crossed the border into Pakistan. With the onset of military action by the US, the total of displaced persons attempting to enter Pakistan was expected to grow still further and Western aid was thought to have been promised in return for assistance during the military campaign. Britain wrote off £200 million of Pakistan’s debt to her and the EU announced trade concessions.

Musharraf undertook a tour of nations to discuss further aid, and the situation in the region in general, making visits to France, Iran, the UK, the US, and, in December, China.

A Roman Catholic church in Bahawalpur, Punjab, was the scene of a massacre in October 2001, when masked gunmen shot dead 18 people and injured dozens more. The attack was attributed to increased tensions between Muslims and Christians following the events of September 11. The Pakistani authorities arrested two Islamic militants suspected of having committed the assault on the Indian federal parliament on December 13 in which 12 people had died; India had instituted a series of sanctions on the country in an attempt to get the ringleaders arrested.

In January 2002, Musharraf banned two high-profile militant organizations: Lashkar-e-Toiba and Jasih-e-Mohammad, and closed dozens more regional offices of similar groups to try to clampdown on violence.

In a statement that covered the issue of Kashmir, Musharraf called for renewed talks with Indian prime minister Vajpayee, and denied that he tolerates terrorism in the region. An escalation in violence, perpetrated by both sides, had been taking place on the border since the autumn with sporadic battles leading to dozens of deaths. As well as calling for dialogue with Vajpayee, Musharraf encouraged the involvement of the US in trying to resolve the problem.

In April the Cabinet approved a move by President Musharraf to extend his term of office to five years. It authorized a May referendum to put the issue to the people, which Musharraf successfully won. In the promised general election, held in October, a number of parties, including the Pakistan Peoples Party Parliamentarians (PPP), the Pakistan Muslim League (Quaid-e-Azam) (PMLQ), and the Muttahhida Majlis-e-Amal Pakistan (MMA), won most seats but no overall majority. A month later the National Assembly elected Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali of the PMLQ as prime minister; he won 172 votes against 86 for Fazlur Rahman and 70 for Shah Mahmood Qureshi. Jamali is believed to have the full backing of President Musharraf, however, Musharraf retains the power to dismiss the government at any time. Senate elections were held in February 2003, with most seats being won by the ruling PMLQ party. Musharraf made a historic visit to President Putin in Russia the following month; Putin has offered to mediate with India and Pakistan over Kashmir.