Articles from the author

A populist message will always have a receptive environment, and almost certainly pave the way for political popularity.

The establishment and the Jamali government's post-election negotiating flexibility towards all politicians ranging from the Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal to the Benazir-led Pakistan Poeple's Party (PPP) have also raised questions about the fate of the Sharif brothers.

A genuine power play is currently underway in Pakistan. Politicians and the establishment are the two main antagonists in this power play.

The post election period in Pakistan has not produced a quick and clean arrangement. Bargaining through protracted negotiations continues creating a situation which is far removed from any political deadlock.

General Pervez Musharraf appears to have had his way. The main man from the establishment's party Pakistan Muslim League Quaid-e-Azam (PML-QA) has been elected Pakistan's 19th prime minister.

This cannot be justified under any pretext. Not even the now officially imbibed and practised notion that ends justify the means.

Pakistan's political history has swung from military to civilian rulers and back. From free elections under military rulers like General Yahya Khan to rigged elections under an elected ruler, Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto.

Wearing army fatigues and throwing caution to the wind, Pakistan's military ruler General Pervez Musharraf launched his political career at the Lahore referendum rally.

President Pervez Musharraf has promised to strengthen Constitutionalism, the prime ministership and the parliamentary form of government through a strengthened presidency.

An objective assessment of the outcome of the referendum should leave no doubt in anybody's mind that the opponents of the referendum have been vindicated.

As alarm bells over the possibility of a Pakistan-India war ring in many western capitals Washington has again despatched an official to South Asia on a fire-fighting mission.

In his first reaction to the internal report published by the EU Election Observers' team, Pakistan President General Pervez Musharraf has repeated his "cultural specificity" argument.