Pakistan: bad blood

Legislators convene on Monday for the first time since the February 18 elections. Their gathering could bring the demise of President Pervez Musharraf one step closer.

Musharraf's allies have been booted out in favour of parties that claim support for democracy and have pledged to restore the judiciary that the president ousted last year. The judges he made enemies of would be unlikely to look favourably on legal attempts to overturn his election last year in highly controversial circumstances. Many remain under house arrest, including the former Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammed Chaudhry. The suits that hit the streets after his dismissal one year ago are defiant. Lawyers have not given up their protests and regularly clash with police.

Much legal and political manoeuvring can be expected. The Pakistan Peoples Party-led coalition government lacks a two-thirds majority that would enable it to impeach the unpopular president. Moreover, that president retains support in the Senate. There is plenty of bad blood bubbling beneath of the veneer of friendly coalition politics as well.

Votes were cast for change. They were also cast for action on tackling price rises, improving security and better combating radicalisation. Parties due to take power risk jeopardising their positions if they fail to act on these issues. Yet some squabbling is to be expected and may get in the way of policy-making. Even selecting a prime minister has proved difficult so far.