Date:19/08/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/08/19/stories/2008081955270800.htm

Opinion - Letters to the Editor

Musharraf’s exit

With his own allies distancing themselves from him, Pervez Musharraf took the right decision to step down as Pakistan President. As an unprincipled, autocratic dictator who was responsible for the murder of democracy in Pakistan, he had no right to continue in office. The people of Pakistan can heave a sigh of relief that he did not resort to the use of his powers under the Constitution to dissolve Parliament. His exit will help Pakistan establish a stable democracy.

J. Eden Alexander,

Thanjavur

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Like all dictators, the retired General asserted in his address to the nation that he had done no wrong. He deserved to go the way he went — he was stubborn, aggressive, subverted the Pakistan Constitution and its judiciary, besides committing aggression against India. Let us hope Pakistan, under its new leadership, will remain stable, fight militancy and end cross-border terrorism.

C.V. Subbaraman,

Ahmedabad

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No tears need be shed over the belated resignation of Gen. Musharraf, architect of the Kargil conflict in which many of our soldiers were killed. The General believed in running with the hare and hunting with the hounds. Notwithstanding his claims of fighting insurgency, the Taliban flourished during his regime and India and Afghanistan became constant victims of terror. India should respond positively to the change in Pakistan.

It will be some time before Pakistan can rein in the ISI. India should help the nascent democracy in its neighbourhood by establishing direct contacts at the higher political level.

M.Y. Kumar,

Mysore

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The impending crisis in Pakistan is frightening. The break-up of the PPP-PML (N) coalition is imminent and it will surely plunge Pakistan into an abyss. What reason would Nawaz Sharif, an ambitious politician, have to stick with the coalition after the removal of Gen. Musharraf as President and the reinstatement of the dismissed judges? The unbridled elements belonging to the Al Qaeda and the Taliban, and religious fundamentalists will create a fertile ground for another military takeover.

Col. Ram Gulrajani (retd.),

Chennai

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The disparate political groups constituting the ruling coalition in Pakistan have no shared goals or vision, except a pathological hatred for General Musharraf. A distinctive feature of sub-continental politics is that a hotchpotch of opportunistic alliances is formed when there is a common enemy to fight. Once the antagonist is dealt with, the parties find it difficult to manage their differences. The track record of past civilian governments in Pakistan does not inspire much confidence. India may have to deal with an unstable neighbourhood in the near future.

V.N. Mukundarajan,

Thiruvananthapuram