Dr. Ghayur Ayub. ( London "”44-208 763 1714)

Options for general Musharraf

A"¦To stay as President;

1. Re-election from present assemblies. It has become very difficult after the recent SC verdict.
2. A deal with BB and get elected through new assemblies. He will loose uniform and staying without uniform makes him vulnerable especially when they don't trust each other.
3. Get elected through new assemblies with help of Chaudrys. He has to arrange massive rigging, which will be challenged in the born-again independent Judiciary.
4. In both the above-mentioned scenarios, the two year legal embargo will hang on his head preventing him taking part in such election. 
5. Declaring emergency and postponing elections for a year. It will be challenged in the Supreme Court. With the existing public and Judicial mood, he will be extremely lucky to get away with it.
6. Declaring martial law. Will the new independent SC support it as "˜Doctrine of Necessity'?

B"¦To keep his uniform;

1. Through the present assembly. For this, he needs BB's support and Constitutional change which is just not possible in present circumstances.
2. Through Referendum. The public will not accept it this time. There will be mass uprising.
3. Through new assemblies. It's impossible after March 9^th.

It seems that not many options are left in President Musharaf's kitty. The only viable way out from him is to leave presidency to the Senate Chairman and choose a successor as Army Chief; a suggestion loudly coming out from the US electronic/print media and influential think-tanks. As far as George Bush's personal support is concerned; general MusharrafMusharraf should take it as buzz by a mosquito that caught itself in a shielding nest.