Quick march to power

THERE is no longer much doubt about it. General Pervez Musharraf, the army chief, means to become the next president of Pakistan, and a powerful one. He has implied as much in private gatherings. The finance minister, Shaukat Aziz, has been quietly assuring the IMF and the World Bank that the general will remain in charge even after next year's promised general election to “ensure continuity in the economic-reform package” currently being delivered. The government has created the post of deputy chief of army staff for General Muzaffar Usmani, a close confidant of General Musharraf's. The deputy will run the army while his boss gets on with ruling the country.