Karachi In Flame of Egos

The recent violent events leading to armed confrontation between the supporters of the President and the ousted Chief Justice of the Pakistan Supreme Court do not bode well for the fragile political stability in the south-Asia. A weak Pakistan will be to the advantage of the right-wing hardliners in the country and will not be in the geo-political interests of India. Though Mr.Mushraff is only a devil's advocate as far as democracy is concerned there, his iron-like tight control over Pakistan has helped both countries from escalating the tensions to some extent. Of course, the US, haunted by the ghost of 9/11, must have prevailed upon him to refrain from stoking proxy-war and materially and morally supporting the terrorists. Now, the General appears to have been caught in a worst political crisis of his life time. He has been politically challenged by an ordinary Jurist. Looks like a least expected eventuality considering the omnipresence of the US intelligence and the well-oiled administrative machinery the Major has deftly built in the country over the years. If one goes by the death toll of the clashes, this is likely to snowball into a major political crisis the Major has ever anticipated. What is to be watched is the response of the US administration. The million dollar question that disturbs a million minds in Pak is as to with whom the US will throw in its political weight. The outcome of the race will depend on this.