Pakistan election

Pakistan election
29th Feb. 2008
http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2008/02/28/pakistan-election.html

Pakistani people should be whole-heartedly congratulated for their courage in going to the polling stations under relatively tense conditions and their maturity in casting their ballots fearlessly to choose candidates (and political parties) of their choice through a democratic process. The fact that 45 percent people voted is in itself a major achievement indeed.
The Pakistani people have also shown the PML-Q, fundamentalist and religious parties their place. This is a positive outcome of the election.
The results of the elections bring out clearly that the elections were free and fair and President Musharraf, though he was mauled badly in the election, deserves kudos for the same.
The next logical steps would be for the new government to reinstate the chief justice and all the deposed judges, who then should hear the case of eligibility (or otherwise) of the election of Musharraf as president.
Musharraf engineered his election by a back-door entry to the presidency by getting elected not by the newly elected representatives, but by erstwhile representatives who would cease to exist as representatives the moment the newly elected members were sworn in.
His election is null and void and it would be appropriate if he resigns gracefully. If he does not, he should be forced to resign.
So it is time to say good-bye to President Musharraf!
The most illogical (and unfortunate) step would be Zardari and Nawaz Sharif failing to keep out personal egos and agendas and failing to join hands to hammer out a compromise to build a workable coalition. They can look at India where coalition governments are more of a rule than an exception.
Musharraf, who is a wily politician, would do anything to join hands with either of them to remain in power, but doing so would be contrary to the people's mandate. So Sharif and Zardari must make all-out efforts to form a coalition government.
The key question in everyone's mind would be: Will the new government of Pakistan that replaces Musharraf's be any more successful in bringing long-term peace to the Indian sub-continent and rein in the wayward terrorism in that country?
K.B. KALE, Jakarta