What will Pervez Musharraf do now?

The government would like to send him into exile, possibly to Saudi Arabia, the United States, Britain or Turkey, but none of them have offered him refuge yet and Mr Musharraf is understood to want to stay in Pakistan and possibly to continue his career in politics. He has probably been given verbal assurances that he will not be prosecuted, but Mr Sharif would still like to put him on trial to avenge his ouster in the 1999 coup. The issue could be complicated if the government reinstates the judges dismissed by Mr Musharraf, as expected.

Who will replace him?

Under the constitution, Muhammad Mian Soomro, the Senate Chairman, becomes acting president until a new one is elected. It is too early to say who that might be, as the government must first decide whether to dilute some of the sweeping presidential powers that Mr Musharraf accrued. That could take weeks, or even months. Asif Ali Zardari, the PPP leader, is thought to want the job, but Nawaz Sharif, the PML (N) leader, is unlikely to agree to that. They will probably settle for a relatively low profile consensus candidate such as, Asfandayr Wali Khan, an ethnic Pashtun whose liberal party is part of the coalition.

What does this mean for the West?

Mr Musharraf was considered the most important Muslim ally in the US-led War on Terror and the United States and Britain continued to back him until this year for fear that a successor would not be so cooperative. However, many Western officials now say that the political crisis of the last 18 months has distracted the Pakistani army from the fight against al-Qaeda and Taleban militants. They like the new army chief, General Kayani, and are now ready to work with the new government, but still harbor suspicions about Mr Sharif, who has been most critical of US policy.

What does it mean for Pakistan?

The government’s first two priorities are to tackle the country’s economic problems, especially high inflation, and to at least contain the Islamic militants in the tribal areas who have gained much ground over the last 18 months. If the ruling coalition can overcome its internal conflicts, it could do so. The concern is that the new government, having united to oppose Mr Musharraf, will now fall apart as egos and other agendas come into play.

What about the Army?

The army has ruled Pakistan for more than half of its 61-year history but the new army chief, General Kayani, appears to be determined to stay out of politics and turn the army into a more disciplined and professional fighting force. For the moment, most Pakistanis agree that is a good idea. But that may change, as it has done so often in the past, if Pakistan enters another prolonged period of political and economic crisis.

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