Pakistani newspapers urge action after Musharraf

By Robert Birsel

ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - Pakistani newspapers cheered the resignation of Pervez Musharraf as president and said on Tuesday that the coalition government now had no excuse not to tackle a deteriorating economy and militant violence.

Musharraf quit on Monday to avoid impeachment charges, nearly nine years after the key U.S. ally in its campaign against terrorism took power in a coup.

Many Pakistanis celebrated the departure of the unpopular president, and financial markets rallied on an end to the political wrangling over his fate.

Newspapers also welcomed an end to the confrontation between the president and the coalition government, led by the party of assassinated former prime minister Benazir Bhutto, and said the government now had to turn to the country's problems.

"Determining what the priorities should be is not difficult: militancy, the economy and relations with India and Afghanistan need to be addressed urgently," the Dawn newspaper said.

"Solutions, however, may prove more elusive ... But at the very least, the politicians must show the same purpose and focus in dealing with the problems that they have demonstrated in taking on the president," it said in an editorial.

Dawn said the restoration of judges Musharraf purged last year and the election of a new president had to be addressed immediately.

Both issues could prove divisive for the coalition dominated by two old rival parties, Bhutto's Pakistan People's Party and the party of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif.

"The coalition must quickly nominate and elect a joint candidate as president and avoid lengthy political bargaining," Dawn said.

LEGACY

The News newspaper, a fierce critic of Musharraf, said the former president had been unable to acknowledges his mistakes.

However, it said his era did include important success, including expanding the role for women in the public sphere, improving the lot of minorities and a thriving private media.

The newspaper also praised the powerful army for not intervening to back up its old boss, and said Musharraf's resignation brought hope.

"It is time for the elected government to show people their ballots were not wasted," the News said.

"The coalition partners must demonstrate they are capable of insightful leadership, political wisdom and can live up to the task of guiding the country ... With Musharraf gone they no longer have an excuse for failure."