Soapbox: Eyes on Pakistan By Mahmoud Murad President Pervez Musharraf of Pakistan is facing a challenge from two former prime ministers currently in exile. This is a crucial moment, and not just for the president. A major political upheaval may not bode well for Benazir Bhutto's Pakistan People's Party or Nawaz Sharif's Pakistan Muslim League. Over the past few years, the political map of Pakistan has changed drastically, so much so that a serious challenge to the president may not lead to the return of the country's conventional politics, but to something totally different. Islamist groups have been organising for years, luring some of the former supporters of Bhutto and Sharif. Should Musharraf lose grip on power, those Islamist groups, with their narrow interpretation of faith and politics, may finally have their chance. So what is the solution? One answer is for Musharraf to forge a coalition with the two rival parties. This would give the country back some of its democratic legacy, a breathing space to put together a new constitution, and a chance to gradually restore its stature as a regional power. Let's learn from Algeria and Morocco. The accession of Islamist groups in Pakistan would not be in anybody's favour. Pakistan needs time to recover and rebuild. Bhutto and Musharraf have been in talks for sometime now. So they must have something in common, some common ground to build upon. And, you may recall, Bhutto and Sharif managed a short-lived coalition before the 1999 coup that brought Musharraf to power. Some may say national unity is a dream. But the alternative is unspeakable. This week's Soapbox speaker is deputy editor-in- chief of Al-Ahram.
