Musharraf Down In Flames

Pakistani strongman Pervez Musharraf has seen his party shot down by angry voters. From the New York Times:

"Almost all the leading figures in the Pakistan Muslim League-Q, the party that has governed for the last five years under Mr. Musharraf, lost their seats, including the leader of the party, the former speaker of Parliament and six ministers.

Official results are expected Tuesday, but early returns indicated that the vote would usher in a prime minister from one of the opposition parties, and opened the prospect of a Parliament that would move to undo many of Mr. Musharraf’s policies and that may even try to remove him.

The results were interpreted here as a repudiation of Mr. Musharraf as well as the Bush administration, which has staunchly backed him for more than six years as its best bet in the campaign against the Islamic militants in Pakistan. American officials will have little choice now but to seek alternative allies from among the new political forces emerging from the vote.
Politicians and party workers from Mr. Musharraf’s party said the vote was a protest against government policies and the rise in terrorism here, in particular against Mr. Musharraf’s heavy-handed way of dealing with militancy and his use of the army against tribesmen in the border areas, and against militants in a siege at the Red Mosque here in the capital last summer that left more than 100 people dead."

The question now appears to be whether Washington has lost its most reliable supporter in Islamabad. At this point it's probably best to keep a close eye on Pakistan's military leadership to see whether they will long tolerate a significant reduction in their control of the country's rule. The Pakistani military is heavily invested in the nation's government, economy and, of course, security. Wrestling them under control will be the first and hardest challenge facing a new civilian administration - if they can oust Musharraf.