Former Pakistani leaders promise to restore democracy

BRITAIN: Former Pakistani prime ministers Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif on Thursday promised to return to their country to demand "free and fair" elections, despite a warning they would not be allowed home.

"I have a commitment to the people of Pakistan and plan to go back and help them at the time of the next election," Bhutto told a news conference in London. Sharif said that he also hoped to return to Pakistan before the next parliamentary elections, due next year.

The two, who were bitter political rivals in Pakistan, allied themselves against President Pervez Musharraf in May, when they vowed to restore democracy there and agreed on a "charter for democracy".

"We want the restoration of democracy in Pakistan and impartial elections must be held under a national government of consensus open to all political parties and all personalities," said Bhutto, who was the country's prime minister between 1988 and 1990, and again from 1993 to 1996, said.

"At the moment certain parties have more advantage and others have less advantage." Sharif, who led the country between 1990 and 1993, and again from 1996 to 1999, told the news conference he agreed with Bhutto, saying that "Musharraf should not be able to influence those elections."

"We have very serious doubts and suspicions about (whether Musharraf) is going to hold free and fair elections." Bhutto also said that, beyond the next set of elections, the two were committed to passing legislation that would ensure basic human rights for Pakistani citizens, saying they hoepd to create a "pluralistic, tolerant and a moderate Muslim society."

London, Friday, AFP