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NEW YORK | RUPEE NEWS | August 13th, 2008 | Moin Ansari | As news of the departure of Pervez Musharraf pick up steam, there is speculation about his final destination after his demise. Ayub Khan and Yahya spent his last days in Islamabad in virtual isolation. However after the judicial hanging of Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, and the forced exile of Altaf Husein, Benzair Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif, it may not be possible for Pervez Musharraf to spend the rest of his days on his farm outside Islamabad. The most probably destination ’till things cool down are Turkey and Saudi Arabia. President Musharraf speaks fluent Turkish and spent some time there as a student. It would be ironic if Mr. Musahrrafswapped positions with Mr. Nawaz Sharif in exile in Saudi Arabia.

Emperor Hail Selassie had propelled Ethopia as a world power and Ethiopia used be consulted in world affairs. After his departure the country spiraled into an ignominious existence. When Marshall Tito of Yugoslavia thundered the world listened. After his departure Yugoslavia balkanized into Serbia, Montenegro, Bosnia and Kosovo. When Ayub Khan was the ruler Pakistan’s decade of development was being emulated by Korea and other third world countries. Today Korea has leapfrogged Pakistani in economic development. China, Taiwan, Malaysia, and Korea all became Asian Tigers under the strongmen. Asia countries sacrificed freedom for economic progress for their citizens. Obviously Pakistan’s road to development has been interrupted a few times by leaders who claim to be democratic but in reality are tyrants in the democratic guise.

Today all decision are being maiden Dubai and London by unelected “leaders” while parliament rubber stamps the decision made in England and the UAE.

As the nation celberates its 61st anniversary of independence, democracy and its pitfalls have to be catered to.

Pakistan’s Musharraf could go to Turkey: report

Pakistan’s President Pervez Musharraf could go to Turkey as British and American diplomats are attempting to find an exit for him before he is dragged through a humiliating impeachment process, The Guardian wrote on Thursday. (UPDATED)
Turkey has long been the favored destination for Musharraf in exile, a report in The Guardian daily said.

Rumors that Musharraf is set to quit have been circulating in Pakistan for several days. He has suffered a collapse in support as three of Pakistan’s four provincial parliaments have passed resolutions, with overwhelming backing, declaring him unfit for office. The fourth province is expected to follow soon.

The provincial votes were symbolic, but the formal process will begin early next week with an impeachment motion in the national parliament. It is clear that the ruling coalition now has the two-thirds majority needed to impeach him.

“Musharraf spent his childhood in Turkey, and speaks the language and loves the country,” the report in The Guardian said. Musharraf is rumored to own property in Turkey, according to the report.

“But Turkey is a Muslim-majority country and he may become a target,” the report also said.

The other countries that Musharraf could go are the United States, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, The Guardian added.

“While Washington would prefer not to host his exile, as it would look bad politically, it would if he has nowhere else to go,” the report said. It said Musharraf has been one of the Bush administration’s closest allies, adding his son lives in the United States.

The report said Musharraf has a small farm just outside Pakistani capital of Islamabad but the house is still being constructed and security would be a challenge. “Another option would be Karachi but it is a volatile city with a huge population of Pushtuns, the ethnic group most angered by his rule,” it added.

Saudi Arabia, as a firm ally of Pakistan, would be willing to accommodate Musharraf as part of an exit deal, according to the report. It said Saudi Arabia has a rich tradition of taking in former dictators, and added Nawaz Sharif was given refuge there in 2000, after Musharraf ousted him from power.

Musharraf, under mounting pressure to resign, called on Thursday for reconciliation to tackle economic problems and Islamist militancy.

But Musharraf’s appeal apparently failed to check coalition government attempts to force him from power, with one senior official saying preparations to impeach the president if he refused to resign were on track