Musharraf's Own Inaction Brought On Crisis, Observers Say

"This has been a chastening experience," Hussain added. "General Musharraf has had a good run for eight years. He has been offered another five years -- but without the absolute authority he once exercised."

In some ways, Hussain said, Musharraf is a victim of his own success. He has presided over a period of greater prosperity for an emerging middle class. He has also allowed a proliferation of media outlets.

But when Musharraf tried in March to get rid of the chief justice, Iftikhar Mohammed Chaudhry, lawyers revolted, and middle-class Pakistanis joined what evolved into a mass movement against the president, and for the restoration of democracy.

Chaudhry toured the country like a rock star, visiting city after city and speaking to festive crowds about the dangers of despotism. A popular song directed at Musharraf emerged and became the movement's theme music:

Your time is at an end

There's no choice but to say goodbye

Haven't you gobbled up enough already?

Broken the constitution with your own two hands

Go home with some dignity, why don't you?

The media followed Chaudhry's campaign minute by minute, with the coverage becoming so critical that the government tried to block it.

Musharraf's top aides had insisted Chaudhry was suspended because of improprieties. But critics said the real reason was that he had exhibited an independent streak that worried Musharraf as the general attempted to have himself reelected by an expiring Parliament, while also keeping his uniform.

Musharraf said at one point that he would "cry" if Chaudhry got his job back, but when the Supreme Court reinstated the judge late last month, there was little the president could do but accept the decision.