Despite attempt by a major opposition grouping to raise the ante by resigning en masse from the national and three provincial assemblies, General Pervez Musharraf on Tuesday stole the show by dropping the clearest hint to date of soon restoring complete civilian rule by appointing his successor for the top military office, and offering Benazir Bhutto a hand of cooperation in the form of a proposed law offering indemnity and political reconciliation.
Tuesday was filled with political drama in Pakistan, and especially in capital Islamabad, where two separate petitions were filed against President Musharraf, and Chief Justice surprised many with his election of a nine-judge panel to hear the challenges.
As the drama was continuing inside the apex court, the nearby Parliament acquired feverish pitch and scores of MPs belonging to the All Party Democratic Movement (APDM), along with hundreds of their supporters, came out to march across to the National Assembly to submit their resignations in what now seems like a half-hearted attempt to block the presidential election scheduled for October 6. Still, it was President Musharraf’s decision to appoint, after having remained as chief of the army staff (COAS) for nearly nine years, Lt. General Ashfaq Pervez Kiani to take over the command of the country’s most powerful institution that totally changed the dynamics of the day’s events, and gave a new direction to the developments of the coming days. The military spokesman gave no indication that General cum President Musharraf is in any mood to shed his uniform or relinquish the COAS before the Presidential election, its now understood that Gen Kiani would be taking charge some time in the middle of October. Most observers of defence-related matters in Pakistan are convinced that perhaps the best person has got the job as General Kiani not only excels in professional military matters and affairs of internal and external security, but also belongs to a rare breed of military officers who have a sound intellectual base. However, what has made the appointment of the former ISI chief as the new head of the army even more significant, and in some way crucial to the stability of any future civilian set-up, is his recent involvement in trying to end the impasse on the political front, particularly in talks with former prime minister Benazir Bhutto.
However, the news has not gone out well in the neighboring India where almost all newspapers and channels acknowledged the fact, with apprehension, that a former ISI head has been appointed Chief of Army Staff(COAS).

There has been a strong indication from the government’s camp of presenting a draft law, aimed at giving blanket indemnity to all those accused of any wrongdoing since 1988, with the exception of those convicted by a court of law. The move is afoot to strike a deal with Benazir Bhutto.
In an interview to Geo TV on Wednesday, however, commenting on the National Reconciliation Ordinance the president said he also wants to withdraw cases against Nawaz Sharif and leaders of other political parties.

The drama took a new turn on Wednesday evening when Chairperson of Pakistan People’s Party Benazir Bhutto said that dialogue with President Pervez Musharraf on power sharing has completely been halted and decision on resigning or not resigning from the assemblies would be taken before October 6.
Musharraf further said he will doff military uniform till Nov. 15 after getting re-elected on October 06. He has also hinted that general Elections would be held within two months after October 6. But some cynics say the way some of the recent developments have taken place in quick succession, gives a feeling as if almost everything is moving according to a prepared script, perhaps prepared in the Presidency.