Perez Musharraf returned to Pakistan this past weekend, hoping to participate in the upcoming elections this May. Of course, he faces a slew of problems ranging from death threats, pending legal charges that include treason for his 1999 coup, and a general lack of excitement about his return.
Although not particularly popular in Pakistan, Musharraf benefits from a highly fragmented political field that includes the Pakistan Peoples Party, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, headed by former Prime Minister and bitter Musharraf rival Nawaz Sharif (i.e. the guy who was PM when Musharraf staged his coup), and former cricket star-turned-politician Imran Khan. Khan enjoys popularity due to a disillusioned populace receptive to his anti-two party message. If anything, the highly fragmented field with a disgraced former leader facing criminal charges and popular non-politician figure resembles another country where recent elections raised more questions than answers.
In any event, the world will increasingly begin to follow political developments in Pakistan as hopefully free and fair elections draw near and the country continues to struggle with its own identity as well as its relationships with neighbors and the world at large.
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