GREAT news from Pakistan!

The Army Generals have more power to remove Pakistani heads of state than any Islamist or opposition party members. It wasnt even Musharraf that seized power, it was the the top Generals in the Army that got rid of Nawaz Sharif and decided on Musharaff (who does have influence within the Army but so do many other Generals). The PPP (Benazir Bhutto's party) had won the election in 1993 by a majority, her rule was actually without any partners, but the promise of repellation of the Hudood Laws which was part of the campaign did not occur, even though there was no grounds for it not to occur due to the PPP majority. Even the PML-Q does not have a majority currently, and its coalition partner is the Islamist MMA, yet Musharraf has been able to push through the amendments, though it could have lead to the dissolution of two of the four provincial governments. You are also totally incorrect that she was "risking political demise if she had "dared" to introduce such laws" that went against Islamist parties. Historically, in Pakistan, Islamist parties have never been popular, not in Balochistan, not in NWFP. That might be your impression, and that seems to be the basis of your statement, but if you took the time to look at the election results, you will find that, with the exception of the last 2002 elections, Islamist parties have always performed poorly - this would have been even truer during Benazir Bhutto's rule in 1988 and 1993, when the best they could do was the JUI. Here is a quote from Dawn explaining the popularity of Islamic parties in Balochistan and the Frontier Province.

"Unless fundamental and enduring changes in the attitudes of the people in NWFP, Balochistan, and elsewhere in the country have occurred, the Islamic parties, taken together, will probably return to their normal status in the next round, that is, between three and 10 seats in the National Assembly. The MQM has usually won around 15 seats and it may stay at that level."
http://www.dawn.com/2005/05/01/op.htm