Imran Khan inspired by India in Musharraf fight

Pakistani opposition leader Imran Khan told AFP his country could do with taking a lesson in democracy from rival neighbour India as he dismissed the chances of next month's elections being transparent.

The Movement for Justice (PTI) party chief predicted turmoil following the delayed February 18 parliamentary elections, insisting only the establishment of an independent judiciary could ensure a credible result.

The 1992 World Cup-winning Pakistan cricket captain briefly joined forces with his British socialite ex-wife Jemima in London on Monday to protest against Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf's visit.

A coalition of parties, including Khan's PTI, is boycotting the election in protest at ex-general Musharraf sacking top judges.

"I have great optimism - in the long run - because I think for the first time, we see light at the end of the tunnel," Khan told AFP. "We see an independent justice system coming. That's the only difference between India and Pakistan, that's how India got democracy. They have an independent election commission and judiciary; we don't.

"Once we have an independent justice system, that is the beginning of change in Pakistan."

However, in the short term, Khan predicted chaos.

"I see turmoil after the elections, because the whole situation is ridiculous," he said. "If Musharraf's party wins, no one will accept it. If the opposition wins, there's deadlock in the assembly. And there's a 50 percent chance he'll try and delay the elections - and then there's turmoil again."

Khan said Musharraf was only being propped up by support from "war on terror" allies the United States and Britain. Those countries need to insist on Musharraf reinstating the judges, he said.

The president, who seized power in a 1999 military coup, was now at risk of a takeover himself, Khan predicted.

"I think the army will get rid of him," he said.

"The sort of casualties the army is taking now in this war on terror, we've lost more soldiers than the US has in Iraq and Afghanistan put together. It can't sustain these losses.

"Within the army there is going to be some sort of revolt if it keeps going on like this. "How long are they going to keep killing their own people? Women and children are dying. People are hating the army for this."

Khan said he would only stand for election "if the judges get reinstated" - though Musharraf was "never" going to do so, the cricket hero said.

"In order to stay in power, he is making Pakistan into a banana republic."He's going to drag the country down with him.

"But there's a great deal of hope because the people of Pakistan have rejected Musharraf. "His days are numbered. It will be the mother of all riggings if his party retains power."

London, Tuesday, AFP