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By Taimoor Farouk

As President Pervez Musharraf faces impeachment in Pakistan, millions gather in China for the 2008 Olympics. But only few know about the misuse of power and the games played by politicians in the history of Pakistani politics.

Gentlemen, like a narcotic, when the addiction to power permeates the leader of a nation, it is safe to say that the process of social unrest and political deterioration has begun.

In 1963 when Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto visited Beijing under President Ayub Khan to negotiate trade and military agreements with the Chinese regime, who would have thought that the same man would later be in a position to refuse the Awami League government and promise to "break the legs" of any Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) member who dared to attend the inaugural session of the National Assembly of Pakistan?

As the demise of powerful men is more than often the result of an ally conspiring against them, it had to be the then Chief of Army Staff General Zia-ul-Haq (appointed by Mr. Bhutto himself), who imposed the 1977 military coup with an assurance to the nation to hold the National and Provincial Assembly elections in the next 90 days.

But after President Zia had Bhutto executed in 1979, it was his turn to play the role of 'The Saviour'. Never mind the formation of Majlis-e-Shoora, a body with 284 members - all nominated by the President; never mind that he famously dismissed a United States proposed 325 million dollar aid package as "peanuts"; never mind the 'Referendum of 1984'; and never mind his involvement in the Soviet-Afghan War after being repeatedly told by several cabinet members to refrain from interfering.

With such 'greatness' already bestowed upon us it is absolutely just and fair for the people of Pakistan to have little tolerance when it comes to matters relating to the government in power.

Gentlemen, it took almost six months after the Feb 18 elections for the two major coalition partners Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) and PPP to reach an agreement on the issue of whether the 12th President of Pakistan remains in his office or not, let alone the real issues faced by people - the rising costs of food items, social unrest, and Pakistan's growing isolation to name a few.

Strangely, the solutions to these problems are expected to be provided by the two leaders Nawaz Sharif and Asif Ali Zardari, both unelected and having the political power to oust President Pervez Musharraf, who is accused of violating the constitution and causing a critical economic deadlock by the ruling coalition.

Meanwhile, it is the arrival of the 2008 Olympics in China that has caught the attention of everyone, including Pakistani politicians. With the invitation sent to the chairman of the 'hereditary party' Bilawal Bhutto by the Communist Party of China, it was a matter of time before the President also decided to attend the opening ceremony of the games.

However, not for the very first time Mr. Musharraf has forgotten the way Pakistani politics is played - only big players visit Beijing and the U.S.

For many, the sacking of the Chief Justice Iftikhar Choudhary on charges of "misconduct and misuse" of authority was the beginning of the end of a far-stretched Musharraf regime.

While others who did not want to grasp the grave reality of the situation continued to proclaim Musharraf as the only man able enough to resolve issues such as Talibanization and a tide of militancy within Pakistan - not taking into account the ability of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif who, ever since the campaign of PML-N for the Feb 18 elections has sworn to reinstate the disposed judges and remove "the dictator" from office.

And now, gentlemen, the situation of the 12th President and 4th military dictator of Pakistan is similar to that of the last of the Great Mughals Bahadur Shah Zafar II who, according to the historian William Dalrymple, in his book The Last Mughal (ISBN 978-0-7475-8726-2) was no better than "A Chessboard King" deprived of real power, dominion and authority.

As day 3 of the 2008 Olympics begins on August 11, so does the process of impeaching the president who, is reported to have said that he has the right to defend himself. Sure, we all do Mr. President, but mind you, sir, in the case of impeachment please get ready for the celebrations which will be carried out by the proponents of the very basic civil and political right, equality before the law.

Let the games begin!