Bhutto surprised by Musharraf’s plan on army post
PAKISTAN: Former Pakistani prime minister Benazir Bhutto said
she was surprised President Pervez Musharraf would seek re-election
while still army chief and said her party might quit parliament if he
did not take steps to restore democracy.
Bhutto, hopes to return after an eight-year exile in October and has
been negotiating a power-sharing deal with Musharraf for months.
She has insisted he quit the army post before a presidential election
due on Oct. 15.
“But he has not quite done this ... I was quite surprised to hear
that he is going to retire as army chief in November,” Bhutto told
Reuters in a telephone interview.
“The Pakistan People’s Party wants to support General Musharraf if he
takes the country towards democracy but we do not want to bail out a
military dictatorship,” she said. Bhutto, said her party could not
support the notion of a military president.
“We are not going to compromise on our democratic principles. We want
democracy in its true spirit. If it is done through negotiations, good.
If we can’t get in through negotiations than we will exert pressure
through the public.”
She said her support for Musharraf would hinge on him accepting
proposals she had made, including immunity from prosecution for
civilians who ruled between 1988 and 1999 and the lifting of a ban on a
prime minister serving a third term. “If he doesn’t do it then the
Pakistan People’s Party ... will consider resigning from parliament,”
she said.
“I think General Musharraf should hear the voice of the people and
move towards true democracy.” Meanwhile Commonwealth Secretary General
Don McKinnon arrives in Pakistan on Wednesday for a visit expected to
focus on President Musharraf’s pledge to quit as army chief, officials
said.
“The secretary general will call on President Musharraf and will also
meet with Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz and Foreign Minister Khurshid
Kasuri,” a Pakistani foreign ministry official told AFP.
McKinnon said earlier this year that the club of mainly former
British colonies was keeping watch on Pakistan for signs of democratic
progress ahead of the end of 2007.
“He will meet with opposition leaders and ruling party members as
well during his three-day trip,” a government official said.
Islamabad, Wednesday, Reuters, AFP
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