This general has destroyed the PPP

LAHORE: One day before his election, Pakistan president Pervez Musharraf finally took revenge on Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto by destroying the traditional political role of a party founded in 1967 against a military dictator General Ayub Khan. Now Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) will become another Pakistan Muslim League-Q, which will act according to the instructions of the army.

As prime minister, Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto suspended Musharraf's father Syed Musharrafudin, a senior diplomat, on charges of irregularities in the Pakistan embassy of Jakarta.

General Pervez Musharraf has hated Bhutto for dishonouring his father without any solid evidence and declared him a fascist in his book In the line of fire. Musharraf's ardour has not cooled though Bhutto was hanged by the handpicked judges of General Zia ul Haq in 1979 with the support of the then US administration. His death was declared a "judicial murder" by many top international jurists. Bhutto's name became a symbol of resistance in Pakistani politics.

Today, Benazir has struck a deal with Musharraf on his terms. Not a single political demand of Benazir was accepted by Musharraf. She only got some personal relief for her and for her husband. She said it again and again in the past that she will not accept Musharraf in uniform, but she accepted an ordinance in her favour from a president in uniform.

Now the chances of her becoming prime minister again are very bleak. She needs two third majority from the next national assembly to lift the ban on becoming a premier for the third time. Highly-placed government sources have revealed that she is tipped for the Chairperson of the Senate (upper house).

Her party may also get the slot of Chief Minister in the Sindh province and some ministries in the centre. Punjab will remain with Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi of PML-Q, Baluchistan may go to a new coalition of JUI-F and pro Musharraf nationalist parties. NWFP may go to JUI-F, PML-Q and Sherpao group. The head of JUI-F Maulana Fazal Ur Rehman is a very serious candidate for the post of prime minister.

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