Responses reflect deep division in Pakistan

For many of the estimated 750,000 Pakistanis living in the UAE, live coverage of President Pervez Musharraf's resignation was compulsive viewing. And their responses to the dramatic developments mirrored the deep divisions in their country. On the lips of some, there was disappointment at his fall from office coupled with respect for his achievements. "My heart is crying today," said Amer Khan, a former Pakistani military officer, now a construction contractor in Abu Dhabi. "Pakistanis will be remembering him after one year, they'll see the reality, how much he contributed to Pakistan. "He did everything for the Pakistani people. He was a sincere guy. After Zadari and Nawaz Sharif, what they'll do once he goes, they'll regret it. He was also good with the West. He was a good friend of Bush, people used to listen to him. The other politicians aren't educated. "You want to criticise him for Kargil [the mountain incursion into India that nearly resulted in nuclear war]? For what? I was there. What he did, he didn't get any benefit out of that. He did it for Pakistan." But others reacted with joy, and hope for a more stable future. "It's good," said Jan Badshah, an Abu Dhabi taxi driver. "Hopefully, it means there will be no more violence. We can put it all behind us and people will cool down. "All the money that's been lost, the rupee value, that will stop, and the stock market will go back up. The bombings will hopefully stop. So much of the protest was by people who wanted Musharraf to go." Mr Badshah accepted that Mr Musharraf had done "a lot of good things" for Pakistan. "He just got into a lot of political fights. Now, whether he stays in Pakistan or leaves, or whether they will bring those cases against him, nobody knows." Also in the capital, Ahmed Hassan, a computer consultant, paused during lunch with friends to watch the speech. "It's definitely good for the country's stability," he said. "The government can focus on the issues of the people rather than politics. While all the political infighting was going on, the country was paralysed. "Obviously, the military has long played a part, directly and indirectly, in Pakistan's history. But this time they stayed neutral. That might set the precedent for the military taking a neutral role, rather than taking over, in a crisis. Now we can talk about moving forward." At the Pakistani embassy in the UAE, there was no comment. But some expatriates felt no need for restraint. "The cloud of uncertainty that loomed over Pakistan has finally cleared," said Khwaja Tanvir, a Dubai resident for 30 years and director of the Pakistan Business Council. "We are happy that the country is back to a democratic system and I wish Musharraf to be brought to justice." He said he had received a steady stream of text messages as Pakistanis followed the broadcast with intense interest. After the president confirmed his resignation, the stream turned to a torrent. "I was flooded with messages," he said. "I think this is a good day for Pakistan. Musharraf alone is responsible for destabilising the country and with him removed the situation would be in control." However, some Pakistanis, including one of Mr Tanvir's senior colleagues, were sympathetic towards Mr Musharraf, even if they approved of his decision to stand down, and called for him to be granted a safe exit. Dr Qaiser Anis, president of the Pakistan Business Council, said: "Of course, under the present situation, Mr Musharraf's resignation is possibly good for the country. At least the country would have a direction now. "The new democratic government was elected by the people and claims it can do better. So, the people now have a lot of hopes of this new government." He wanted no vendetta against the departing president. "In the light of the work done by him over the last eight years, we must allow him to go and probably even use his knowledge for the progress of the country. "If Pakistan is strong then the region is strong. If Pakistan is unstable then, I believe, the entire region would be unstable." In the several Pakistani restaurants and community centres where the resignation speech was broadcast, discussion centred on succession. Akram Farooqi, president of the Pakistan People's Party in the UAE, said most expatriates would be content with the resignation, and praised a decision that could spare the country "further confrontation and instability". And while welcoming the resignation as a historic victory for democracy, he had words of warning: "Now all eyes are on the new coalition government and they will have to perform." Others, meanwhile, were simply resigned. "This is of no benefit," said Syed Khalid, manager of Zia Restaurant near Al Wahda Mall in Abu Dhabi. "I've wanted to go back for a long time to Pakistan, but every time there is just more bad news. It seems to never get better. "I've been here 16 years now, waiting. People told me, why are you leaving Karachi, its just like Dubai. But you can see the environment there now, how bad it is." @email:[e-mail] @email:[e-mail]