Wednesday, 2 October 2002 |
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Pakistan party vows to teach democracy to army ISLAMABAD, Sept 30 (Reuters) - The Pakistan People's Party (PPP) of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto vowed on Monday to teach the country's army about democracy if elected to power in October's parliamentary elections. Unveiling its manifesto for the October 10 polls, which are aimed at returning the country to civilian rule, PPP acting Secretary General Raza Rabbani said the military had to learn to respect the ballot box. "The educational curriculum in defence institutes was prepared to train an officer cadre that could uphold the forces of military rule," Rabbani said. "That curriculum would be revised to ensure military respect for democracy, democratic institutions and elected officials." Pakistan has been ruled by military men for more than half of its post-independence history, and analysts say its sizeable defence budget has held back the country's development. General Pervez Musharraf took power in a bloodless coup in 1999 and will remain as president even after the October polls. The PPP is one of the country's main political parties, and Bhutto was twice elected prime minister in 1988 and 1993. But the PPP is seen as very unlikely to win a majority this time around, with analysts saying the elections have been tilted in favour of pro-Musharraf candidates. |
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