The people of Pakistan delivered a crystal-clear verdict on nine years of military rule with this vote. The sharp rise of militancy, rising prices of fuel and essential food items, and a grave energy crisis bred dissatisfaction and resentment. But the death-blow to Musharraf's popularity came last year in reaction to his crackdown on an increasingly independent judiciary, his alleged illegal detainment and torture of hundreds of civilians, and his open war against the independence and objectivity of the private media.
The Pakistan People's Party, lead by the renowned Bhutto family, and the PML-N, led by two-time former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, together secured more than half the seats in parliament. Under Pakistan's constitution, any attempt to impeach Musharraf requires a two-thirds majority in parliament, but a constitutional amendment introduced by the then-General Musharraf gives the president the right to pre-empt an impending impeachment by dissolving the parliament and calling for fresh elections. This conflict of interests now promises to kick-start a dangerous battle between the two main parties and Musharraf himself.
It is widely believed in Pakistan that Musharraf might still hold onto power because America considers him a "vital ally" in its war on terror. Washington provided blind support to Musharraf over the past six years, even while he clamped down on the judiciary, politicians and the media. Washington has repeatedly failed to realize that the alliance of the Islamic extremist mullahs that the United States worries about has never succeeded when democracy has been given a chance in Pakistan. Last week the conservative religious alliance was only able to win six seats in a parliament of 342. This alliance was only successful during Musharraf's rule. Therefore, it is evident that keeping Musharraf in power not only goes against the wishes of ordinary Pakistanis but is also detrimental to the United States. Militancy is at an all-time high and the very existence of Pakistan as a stable nation state is at stake. Washington needs to realize that by investing everything in Musharraf, it has hindered the fight against extremism and made Pakistan itself a casualty. Therefore, both American self-interest and the interests of democracy dictate that the U.S. government abandon its myopic Musharraf-centric foreign policy and work with the elected representatives of the people of Pakistan.
An examination of this University suggests why the United States has such a shortsighted Pakistan policy: There isn't much academic research or knowledge regarding the unique situation in Pakistan. While a South Asian studies certificate was launched last year, there is no course that specifically deals with Pakistan and its history. Such courses would enable students to better understand the threat posed by the possible collapse of a vital strategic player in the global fight against terrorism. Most students' only source of information on Pakistan is the mainstream media, which tends to highlight the tragedy of present-day Pakistan while maintaining a worrisome silence regarding the causes of today's realities. Anti-American sentiment in Pakistan is at an all-time high, and the American public must realize that this sentiment has a strong basis in reality. The University should also create courses and fund research centered on Pakistan to ensure that the future policymakers of this country are not as uninformed as those currently in charge. Hopefully the Princeton community will make keeping a close eye on post-election Pakistan a priority: How events unfold promises to affect the interests of the United States in a significant way.
The next few weeks will determine whether the elected representatives in Pakistan will be allowed to work unhindered and whether they will be able to deliver their promises to a nation that desperately needs things to go right. One wishes that the hopes of 160 million people will not be shattered once again. It is make or break time for Pakistan.
Muhammad Amjad is a sophomore from Rawalpindi, Pakistan. He can be reached at mamjad@princeton.edu.
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