Ali Khan [Washburn University School of Law]: "Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf deserves credit for holding fair elections for the national and provincial parliaments. The opposition parties have won and the President's Party has lost in a big way. It is now time for the President to leave office with honor and dignity.

To put Pakistan back on the democratic path, the following items need immediate attention. First, the judges deposed after the November proclamation of emergency must be restored so that the judicial system is rehabilitated and the striking lawyers go back to work. The winning parties must honor the lawyers who have sacrificed a lot for the restoration of the rule of law. Second, the unlawful and unilateral constitutional amendments made during the emergency should be annulled. Third, once the Supreme Court is restored, the case involving the legitimacy of the October Presidential election must be brought to conclusion. If the Supreme Court holds that the Presidential election is constitutional, the opposition parties must allow President Musharraf to finish his five year term. All these items, however, will more easily resolve if President Musharraf leaves office without further distorting political and constitutional dynamics. As it is said about democracy: The people have spoken!"