Pakistan viewed from afar: Musharraf needs Bhutto

President (dictator) Pervez Musharraf remains on the hot seat in Pakistan.

Musharraf is unpopular, and he is having trouble finding issues that reverse the downward trend of his popularity. He gained a bit of Pakistani "street cred" earlier this year by allowing to stand a Supreme Court ruling that went against him. Within the past few weeks, the court kneecapped Musharraf by finding that he doesn't have the power to exile a native Pakistani, such as the leader Musharraf ousted when he seized power to cap a military coup.

This is not the type of thing that bolsters the power of a military dictator.

Musharraf at least appears (who really knows the hearts of men?) to have Pakistan's best interests at heart, but his regime remains at risk of being toppled. To keep that from happening, Musharraf has pursued a political reconciliation with the Pakistan People's Party. Musharraf apparently believes that PPP support will solidify his standing, so he has made overtures to another exiled Pakistan political figure, Benazir Bhutto.

Bhutto has made Musharraf's life miserable by placing some firm conditions on her cooperation--the type of thing that Musharraf won't do willingly--like separate the position of President from the control of the military. Bhutto has insisted that Musharraf give up the uniform as president and while running for re-election. That disagreement has simmered for some time, with recent reports indicating imminent compromise.

ISLAMABAD: Negotiators trying to thrash out a power-sharing deal between Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf and self-exiled former premier Benazir Bhutto in fresh talks achieved a breakthrough on Tuesday, the PPP sources said.

At a meeting in Dubai they focused on Musharraf's powers over the Pakistani parliament and on forthcoming presidential and general elections, Pakistan People's Party spokesman Farhatullah Babar said.
(The News)

Complicating matters still further, the in-country PPP leadership says it doesn't support Musharraf regardless of what Bhutto says. And the ousted former president is due back in the country (he says) any day, now.

Whither Pakistan?