MOREAU: Can Musharraf prevent you from returning? SHARIF: He’s trying his utmost to stop me—threatening me, saying I’ll take you straight to jail. His tactics don’t scare me.
Do you see a role for Musharraf as president? Even today he is an illegitimate president. The Constitution does not allow for a man wearing a military uniform to sit in the president’s house ruling the country. Dictatorship has to lose.
You ’ re accusing Musharraf of many of the same high-handed things you did. We all make mistakes. We are not angels. But even if a democratic government does make mistakes, that does not mean that the Army should overthrow it. Let the government be judged by the people.
The Bush administration worries that without Musharraf, the fight against Islamic extremism will falter. I think the American administration needs to rethink its policy toward Pakistan. The U.S. must not equate Pakistan with Musharraf. It will not go down well with 160 million Pakistanis if the U.S. continues to support one man against the people’s wishes.
What if Bhutto and Musharraf come to a power-sharing agreement? That will be bad for Pakistan and democracy. It will be unfortunate if a person like Benazir Bhutto, who has been struggling for democracy all her life, strengthens the hand of dictatorship at this critical juncture.
What happens if Musharraf declares martial law? If he does, it will be a major defeat for him. It will show that he is running away. It will be a victory for all of us.
