'Attack on Musharraf stage-managed'

The December 14 and 25 assassination attempts on Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf could be stage-managed, according to reports.

The Saturday Tribune quoted "a source assigned to a high strategic position" as saying that the December 14 attempt was "carefully stage-managed by Musharraf's close staff -- and at his instigation".

The Washington Times, in a recent editorial, described the circumstances of the assassination bid as "strange and alarming" and said that among the possibilities would be "that someone in Musharraf's inner circle was plotting against him, or at least plotting to warn him quite dramatically".

The Saturday Tribune, in another article, quoted Shamim Akhtar, a former head of Karachi University's International Relations Department, as saying that "he is not only facing threats from extremists, but also from their old sympathisers within military establishment who dislike his changed policies".

Akhtar also added that the "reversal of Afghan and Kashmir policy is not possible overnight, as it is seen as a betrayal of the larger Islamic cause".

However, both Saturday Tribune and Washington Times were one in their assessment that the December 14 attempt could not have been carried out without the involvement people close to Musharraf.

The American paper said, "Whoever planted the bomb had to have done so conspicuously, since an explosive of between 800 to 1,000 pounds cannot conceivably be unloaded and planted discreetly, particularly since the bomb was planted on a bridge just half a mile from the headquarters of the army's 10th Corps and one of the most secure areas in the country."

In another article, the Saturday Tribune said within two days of the December 14 attack, Musharraf reshuffled the army brass, "removing his Military Intelligence chief, kicking up the man who ran the Army Headquarters, changing his personal secretary and sending out the message that he was in charge.

"The reshuffle confirmed the worst fears of everyone that the attack was an inside Army job and Musharraf could not wait for any investigation to be completed."