Highlights
– Pakistan’s new Parliament holds first session
– Days earlier a blast at Islamabad eatery directly targets foreigners
– Prime Minister candidate likely to be revealed by end of the week
On March 17, 2008, Pakistan’s 13th National Assembly was sworn in under tight security in the capital city of Islamabad. The outgoing National Assembly Speaker, Chaudhry Amir Hussain, chaired the session, swearing in the 328 newly elected members of Parliament under the 1973 constitution, an important point as the constitution is not the version President Pervez Musharraf amended after he imposed emergency rule in November 2007.
Although the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leader Asif Ali Zardari, along with the Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) leader Nawaz Sharif, watched the proceedings from the visitor’s gallery, President Musharraf was conspicuously absent.
Notably, the opening day of Parliament was overshadowed by a terrorist attack in Islamabad over the weekend, which left one woman dead and injured at least twelve others . This is the third incident in a major Pakistani city in less than one month.
• On March 11, 2008, twin suicide blasts killed 24 in Lahore .
• On March 4, 2008, two suicide bombers detonated themselves at a navy college in Lahore, killing at least six people .
Weekend Attack
The attack on March 15, 2008 was the first bombing to directly target foreign civilians in Pakistan since a church bombing in 2002 . The blast occurred at the Luna Caprese, a popular restaurant for expatriates in Islamabad. The sole casualty of the attack was a Turkish relief aid worker.
Although four of the five Americans injured in the attack are Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) agents, officials do not believe they were directly targeted. Rather, militants linked to the Pakistani Taliban are thought to have launched an assault on the restaurant due to its foreign ties.
More than 1,100 people died in terrorist attacks last year alone, making it the deadliest year since Pakistan joined the US-led Global War on Terror; however, 2008 looks set to break that record again. Less than three months into the year approximately 188 people have died in a total of 17 bombings.
Prime Minister Spot Still Undecided
On March 16, 2008, Makdoom Amin Fahim, PPP vice chairman, resigned from the Senate, however, he will maintain his National Assembly seat. Fahim was a favorite for the position of Prime Minister until reports surfaced that the PML-N objected because of his ties to Musharraf. However, Fahim continues to deny allegations that he is no longer running for the position.
Rumors are also circulating that Zardari is running for the post, however, he is ineligible because he does not currently hold a position in the National Assembly. A far more likely candidate is Zardari’s sister, Azra Pechaho, who was elected to the National Assembly from Nawabshah constituency in Sindh province. Chaudhry Ahmed Mukhtar, Shah Mehmood Qureshi and Yusuf Raza Gillani are also possible candidates.
Pakistani Political Outlook
Although the Assembly will meet on March 19, 2008 to choose the new Speaker and the PPP will likely reveal the Prime Minister later this week, the new government is not scheduled to meet until the end of March.
The PPP and PML-N, along with several smaller independent parties, have formed a coalition that they hope is strong enough to face President Musharraf in the new government. Coalition leaders have indicated they will attempt to amend the constitution to deprive Musharraf of his power to dismiss the government, as well as seek a United Nations (UN) investigation into the assassination of Benazir Bhutto . Most significantly, PML-N’s Sharif would like to see the restoration of the senior judges disposed by Musharraf in November 2007. If reinstated, the judges could find Musharraf’s presidency unconstitutional.
Despite the united opposition to Musharraf, vast differences exist between the PPP and PML-N. Sharif will likely seek to impeach Musharraf due to their long-standing rivalry, while Zardari has indicated his intention to take more passive steps in opposition to Musharraf, focusing instead on restoring the judges. As we previously reported, these differences may serve to undermine their goals in the long-term (Previous Report).
