Pakistan's Dictator Musharraf Bows to Pressure, Setting Early January 2008 Parliamentary Elections

Musharraf: Pakistan's caretaker cabinet to take oath Friday

www.chinaview.cn 2007-11-16 00:21:09 Print

ISLAMABAD, Nov. 15 (Xinhua) --

A new caretaker prime minister and cabinet members will take oath of office Friday as the present cabinet led by Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz stands dissolved Thursday midnight at the completion of term of the National Assembly, said Pakistani President General Pervez Musharraf here Thursday.

Musharraf will administer the oath to the new prime minister and the cabinet at the Aiwan-e-Sadr presidential palace Friday morning, according to the state-run APP news agency.

Under the constitution, the new caretaker setup will supervise the general election that is likely to be held in the first week of January and will hand over the charge to the new prime minister and the cabinet.

However, Musharraf has not yet announced the setup of the new cabinet.

In his interactive session with a gathering of students, academicians, lawyers and businessmen in Islamabad Thursday on the topic of "Transition to Democracy", Musharraf said that he thwarted efforts to derail the democratic system and reemphasized the resolve to hold the general election in a free, fair and transparent manner.

Musharraf said that the Election Commission would fix a date for the general election in Pakistan.

On the turmoil facing the country in the past few months, Musharraf said that some elements of the judiciary were in conflict with the executive and the legislative, paralyzing functioning of the government and causing chaos and uncertainty.

He said that he had to correct the conflict between the three pillars of state and bring harmony among them to combat extremism and terrorism.

About lifting of emergency he imposed on Nov. 3, Musharraf said that the leadership was looking into it and would see how long it was required in the country's interest.

Musharraf said that he had always taken decisions in the Pakistan's interest and never taken any dictation from anyone. He said that he would take the oath of office as the civilian president after the notification on the presidential election, remove the uniform and the country would complete its transition to full civilian dispensation.

Pakistan senate chairman to be caretaker cabinet PM

www.chinaview.cn 2007-11-16 04:01:01 Print

ISLAMABAD, Nov. 15 (Xinhua) --

Senate Chairman Mohammadmian Soomro will take oath as caretaker prime minister Friday, said Pakistani President General Pervez Musharraf here Thursday.

The state-run PTV reported that Musharraf would administer the oath to the new prime minister and the cabinet at the presidential palace on Friday morning,

Under the constitution, the new caretaker setup will supervise the general election that is likely to be held in the first week of January and will hand over the charge to the new prime minister and the cabinet.

Musharraf said that the Election Commission would fix a date for the general election in Pakistan.

He said that he had to correct the conflict between the three pillars of state and bring harmony among them to combat extremism and terrorism.

About lifting of emergency he imposed on Nov. 3, Musharraf said that the leadership was looking into it and would see how long it was required in the country's interest.

Musharraf said that he had always taken decisions in the Pakistan's interest and never taken any dictation from anyone.

He said that he would take the oath of office as the civilian president after the notification on the presidential election, remove the uniform and the country would complete its transition to full civilian dispensation.

Editor: Mu Xuequan

Musharraf says he considered quitting

Dawn, November 15, 2007 Thursday Ziqa’ad 04, 1428

By Our Special Correspondent

In what appears to be a quick response to Benazir Bhutto’s call on Tuesday asking President Gen Pervez Musharraf to step down, the beleaguered general said on Wednesday that he had considered resigning over the current political crisis, but had discounted it.

In an interview with the Sky News published in The Times on Wednesday, Gen Musharraf said he had decided that he was the only person who could lead Pakistan towards democracy.

“When there is no turmoil in Pakistan, I will step down. I am not a dictator, I want democracy,” said Gen Musharraf, making the timetable for transition to democracy still vaguer.

Gen Musharraf also said that he felt let down by the West and the media and warned: “We may lose the battle on terror because of misreporting by some parts of the media in Pakistan and around the world.”

President Musharraf defended his decision to impose a state of emergency and reiterated that general elections promised by Jan 9 would be held under emergency rule, adds AFP, quoting excerpts released by the Sky News on its website.

Gen Musharraf admitted the political situation was not going well and called for unity. “Leave the past behind. The country must work together for the best of Pakistan.”

President Musharraf in an interview with the AP news agency said he expected to step down as army chief by the end of November and begin a new presidential term as a civilian, warning that the country risked chaos if he gave into opposition demands to resign.

In an interview with The Associated Press, the military ruler accused Benazir Bhutto, currently under house arrest, of fuelling political turmoil and rejected Western pressure to quickly lift emergency rule.

“All those who are blunt enough to tell me to my face what the reality is, all of them think, yes, it will lead the country to chaos if I do not handle the political environment now with me remaining as the president,” he said at his army office.

The US-backed general had originally planned to quit as chief of the army by Thursday, when his presidential mandate and the term of the current parliament expire, but said he was forced to delay the restoration of civilian rule until a court ruling on his recent re-election.

He said the exact timing would depend on the Supreme Court – which he purged of independent-minded judges when he suspended the Constitution on Nov 3 – but expected it to happen within this month.

The US and other Western allies have been pushing for him to take off his uniform and end the emergency, warning that it could seriously undermine the legitimacy of the elections that are meant to end eight years of direct military rule since he took power in a coup.

Gen Musharraf dismissed a threat from Commonwealth to suspend Pakistan unless the emergency is lifted by Nov. 22.

“I take decisions in Pakistan’s interest and I don’t take ultimatums from anyone,” he said.

He lashed out at Ms Bhutto for stirring up political tensions. He said she was overplaying her popularity and thought it unlikely she could become prime minister for a third time by winning the elections, but left open the door for working with her if she did.

“If she does become the prime minister, we will see. I do function with everyone. I’m quite good at functioning with people. It depends on her if she wants to be on a confrontational course or a conciliatory one,” he said.

He admitted he was concerned about the threat of a boycott of elections by opposition parties, but said he thought it unlikely and urged the opposition against it.“Emergency is not meant to rig elections. Emergency is in fact meant to make sure that elections are held in a peaceful manner,” the president said.

He remained confident that he would retain the backing of the military even when he gives up his uniform. Commenting on rumours that spread last week that he had been put under arrest by another general, Musharraf said the army would never turn against him.

“People don’t know our army. They follow me not because of the rank but because of the respect that they hold for me. I have no doubt on the loyalty of this army. Never will that happen against me.”

He said unity in the military would prevent Pakistan from ever becoming a failed state.

“The military is very strong and extremely disciplined. As long as the armed forces of Pakistan remain united, which they will and are, no harm can come to Pakistan. The harm can come from the political dilemma. We have to resolve the political dilemma,” Gen Musharraf said.

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