Pakistan's PM expects Musharraf to win re-election

PAKISTAN: Pakistan's prime minister said in an Associated Press interview he expects President Pervez Musharraf to secure another five years in office this fall despite continuing turmoil over his bid to fire the chief justice.

Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz projected an air of confidence for the government and Musharraf's leadership during the interview Sunday, playing down signs of a spread in Islamic extremism in the country and predicting this will be the first parliament in Pakistan's history to finish its full five-year term.

Aziz said the country has been going through a period of economic growth and now has record reserves of US$15 billion (euro11.2 billion).

"The whole nation hopes, and I'm sure President Musharraf wants, to stand for re-election. We are very sure he will contest and he will be elected for another term," said Aziz, seated in a state reception room in his official residence overlooking the capital.

In the interview, Aziz went out of his way to defend the government record in tolerating criticism.

"We believe in freedom of the press. The government is very much at peace with itself so if people criticize us we welcome it as long as there is a code of conduct and norms of fair reporting are followed," he said, but added the institution of the army should be spared unfair attacks.

Former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, the leader of the Pakistan Peoples Party now in exile in Dubai and London, is emerging as Musharraf's chief political rival.

Aziz said she was free to return to the country before elections, but will face ongoing legal cases against her - a reference to corruption allegations dating back to her two terms in office in the late 1980s and early 1990s.

"That question is better put to her," he said when asked about her possible return. "But she has some legal issues in this country and others and perhaps she will seek legal advice from legal counsel. She has to decide what her future is."

Islamabad, Monday, AP