London, Nov.6 : President General Pervez Musharraf should be counting his days in Pakistan’s power structure, given his panicked move to declare an emergency.

According to The Times, this step has lost him international support and set him on a collision course with the courts, the lawyers and the main political parties.

The only conceivable peaceful outcome is that he agrees to go ahead with elections due in January, and accepts the results.

There is a likelihood that his action will lead to him being pushed out, and the emergence of a host of contenders for his job, including Vice Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Asfaq Kiyani.

It is possible that Musharraf also could not face stepping down as head of the Army and taking off his uniform, as he had promised to do, by November 15, whatever the court ruling. Much of his power would immediately have gone; calculation aside, the psychological wrench may also have been too formidable.

There will be public protests, which will put him in a quandary about how much force to use.

There will also be huge pressure from Britain and the US – with the threat of cutting off US military aid – to lift the state of emergency and to hold elections.

But if the turmoil continues, all kinds of would-be leaders may reckon that their time has come. Musharraf has put great faith in the loyalty of Lt. Gen. Kiyani. (ANI)