Deputy appointment, a tactical move by Musharraf

By B. Muralidhar Reddy

ISLAMABAD, MAY 2. With the appointment of Lt. Gen. Muzaffar Hussain Usmani as the Deputy Chief of the Army Staff (DCOAS), the military ruler and the Chief Executive, Gen. Pervez Musharraf, has taken yet another decisive step positioning himself to continue to play a major role in the affairs of the country.

The first indication that Gen. Musharraf is preparing himself for the big role was available when he announced a few weeks ago in Karachi that he has no intention to retire as the COAS when his term ends in October 2001. He was responding to a question at a news conference on what he intended to do when his retirement approaches in October.

There have been hints from Gen. Musharraf and his managers in the last few weeks that the Chief Executive is not averse to the idea of taking over as the President of Pakistan. At the same time he intends to continue as the COAS as it is the post of Army Chief that is seen in Pakistan as the real power center.

It is against this backdrop that the appointment of Lt. Gen. Usmani, Commander, Corps 5 (Karachi) assumes significance. Lt. Gen. Usmani is the senior most General in the hierarchy and had played a major role in the October 1999 coup that led to the ouster of Mr. Nawaz Sharif as the Prime Minister.

Military experts believe that as Deputy Chief of the Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Usmani was likely to take up most of the institutional duties of Gen. Musharraf who is saddled with the responsibility of running the affairs of the country in his capacity as the Chief Executive.

While validating the military coup the Supreme Court of Pakistan had prescribed a three-year time limit for the Army to return to the barracks and hand over the reigns of power to the civilian set-up. The time frame given by the apex court is to end in October 2002.

In his recent interviews, Gen. Musharraf, while stating the intention of his regime to usher in a democratic set- up, has hinted that he has plans to stay on in some capacity beyond October 2002. The Chief Executive has given ample suggestions that in his perception, Pakistan needed his services.

It was in this context that there have been speculations galore in the Pakistani press about the intentions of Gen. Musharraf to step into the shoes of the office of President. However, it is not clear as to how exactly he intends to take over as the President.

Under the Constitution of Pakistan, President would have to be elected by the members of the National and Provincial Assemblies with a two-thirds majority. At one stage the speculations were that the military government would revive the suspended Assemblies and with the help of the breakaway group of the Pakistan Muslim League achieve the objective.

Rumours on this score continue in view of the conflicting and contradictory statements about the intentions of the Musharraf regime on revival of assemblies. Musharraf could also travel the route taken by the former military rulers, Ayub Khan and Zia-ul- Haq who got elected as President by the `grassroots representatives' who had won in the partyless polls.

Incidentally under the current regime, local body elections are being held under the same formula. Political parties are not allowed to put up their nominees. The local bodies' elections are scheduled to be completed by August this year.

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