General Musharraf did indeed look terribly disappointed with the results of the February 18th elections. His place is expected to be taken by Gen Ashraf Pervez Kiyani, the new Army Chief. The three most important US Senators including Senator Biden, the Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and now a retired Presidential hopeful and Senator John Kerry, who lost to George Bush at the last US Presidential election, during the poll campaign, seemed willing to swear by Musharraf’s commitment to fair polls, a not very perfect poll process that eventually went against Musharraf.

Not surprisingly, for such a man, who breathes sheer fire and brimstone at the very mention of the word politician, announced shortly after the immensity of his unpopularity began to worry some of his western supporters, notably George Bush, that he was willing to be the father figure of the new post-election dispensation once it acquired form and content. In other words he would stand by any future Government in Pakistan regardless of whoever gained the approval of the newly-elected National and Provincial Assemblies.

In a different country and in different circumstances, good behavior certificates issued by the US President and Senators might have raised many eyebrows, unfortunately both Pakistani military and political establishments have over the years learnt to learn on American endorsement as a necessity. It comes as no surprise when the other Pakistani leaden military or civilian, seeking US blessings before they embark on something new. Asif Zardari, the late Benazir Bhutto’s husband, hardly lost much time in having relationships with US Ambassador in Islamabad soon after his PPP emerged as the largest single party in the National Assembly. Nawaz Sharif too has his American links.

Musharraf falls into a different category. Some in Washington may find themselves bereft now of trusted collaborators in Pakistan but that hardly matters as long as the leader of Pakistan, regardless of who forms the Government. And Musharraf, the never-say-die man of Pakistan has not quite given up. His men have been sounding Asif Zardari and some others about the possibility of the retired commando striking an alliance. At the same time the President has asked his lawmen to revive the cases of corruption against Zardari and Benazir in the Swiss Courts. He can well afford to ignore his own ordinances withdrawing all the corruption charges against the Bhutto’s.

Musharraf meanwhile has yet to undo his Provisional Constitution Order. Musharraf, frankly speaking, does not seem to have realized even now that his days as the country’s unquestioned CEO have ended. He has lost the National Assembly as well as the provincial assemblies and even if he were to somehow survive the present crisis he will no longer be acceptable to the people as a whole and to the civil society in particular. The continuing protests by lawyers, even after Musharraf’s debacle at the polls, should serve as a reminder to him that he is no longer invincible. Indeed, if Pakistan's transition to democracy is to succeed, he must retreat to the shadows and eventually bow out to redeem himself and his country.