The Hindu : A confrontation in the offing

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Nov 16, 2002

International

International

A confrontation in the offing

By B. Muralidhar Reddy

ISLAMABAD Nov. 15 . The Pakistan president, Pervez Musharraf, seems headed for a confrontation with most of the parties as the newly-elected inaugural session of the National Assembly begins here tomorrow as a mark of transition of power from the military to a civilian set-up. However, there seems some solace for Gen. Musharraf at the stroke of midnight on Thursday as the Pakistan People's Party (PPP) broke up and the dissidents vowed to back the efforts of the General for a `smooth transfer' of power. But contentious issues such as the supremacy of Parliament over the military continue to haunt the nation. Most observers believe that the 10 newly-elected members of Benazir Bhutto's PPP, who switched loyalties and gave a helping hand to the pro-Musharraf grouping to form a government, came rather late in the day. The battle lines have clearly been drawn between Gen. Musharraf and the parties opposed to his package.

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