Flood misery ‘could spark unrest’

ISLAMABAD – The humanitarian and economic disaster caused by the worst floods in Pakistan’s history could spark political unrest that could destabilise the government, dealing a major blow to the Obama administration’s efforts to fight violent Islamic extremism.The government’s shambling response to floods that have affected a third of the country has some analysts saying that President Asif Ali Zardari could be forced out of office, possibly by the military, which has ruled Pakistan for more than half its 63-year history.Other experts caution that the state itself could collapse, as hunger and destitution trigger explosions of popular anger that was already seething over massive unemployment, high fuel prices, widespread power outages, corruption, and a bloody insurgency by extremists allied with al Qaeda.“The powers that be, that is the military and bureaucratic establishment, are mulling the formation of a national government, with or without the PPP (Zardari’s ruling Pakistan Peoples Party),” said Najam Sethi, editor of the weekly Friday Times. “I know this is definitely being discussed.“There is a perception in the army that you need good governance to get out of the economic crisis and there is no good governance,” he said. Last week, the Obama administration stepped up emergency aid this week to US$76 million, anxious to counter the influence of Islamic extremist groups that are feeding and housing victims through charitable front organisations in areas the government hasn’t reached. (AP)