Elections will be without Bhutto, Sharif: Musharraf

[Srirangan]

Pakistan's President General Pervez Musharraf has made it clear for the first time that neither former Prime Ministers, Benazir Bhutto nor Nawaz Sharif, will be allowed to contest the next elections in Pakistan, which are due next year.

In an interview to NDTV, the Pakistani President said that if they land in Pakistan, Sharif will be sent back on the next flight out of Pakistan, like his brother, and Bhutto will have to stand trial.

Dr Prannoy Roy: In these elections, are Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif going to stand?

General Musharraf: No!

Dr Prannoy Roy: Why not?

General Musharraf: Firstly, one of them is convicted. The other also is convicted. Both of them are convicted actually. One of them has gone out for 10 years for an agreement, by himself. And the other is out since.

Dr Prannoy Roy: What happens if they both come (to Pakistan) in a plane together?

General Musharraf: If he comes, he will be sent back to Saudi Arabia. He is on a 10-years agreement. He will straight go back. Like his brother came, went back there. So he will be sent back to Saudi Arabia. If she comes, there are trials and cases against (her).

Dr Prannoy Roy: So you are not scared of them?

General Musharraf: No. I am not scared of anything and anybody.

Army uniform

Musharraf says he will not give up his uniform before the elections in November 2007, but is unsure of the legal position after that. The General, however, remains unclear on whether he will give up his army uniform after the elections.

Dr Prannoy Roy: At election time, are you going to have your uniform? Or have you not made up your mind yet?

General Musharraf: The constitution allows me to hold it till 2007, so I will hold it.

Dr Prannoy Roy: Till November 2007?

General Musharraf: There are some arguments. Some say it's November 2007 and some say it's upto December 2007. I don't know the legalities. Now that is the constitutional position. So if the elections, as I said are in November, I will be in uniform. And that decision I haven't taken - whether I need to take the uniform off before that. But I will be in uniform then. I will have to decide about the uniform, yes.

Dr Prannoy Roy: You may not be without your uniform? You still have to decide this?

General Musharraf: Yes, I have to take that decision. It's a very key decision.

Dr Prannoy Roy: Why is it a key decision? Why is not just easy to say (no uniform)?

General Musharraf: It's not easy, because there are some perceptions. At this moment what Pakistan is facing needs a unity, a unity of command over important organs of state. That includes the military, the political and the bureaucracy. A unity of command over them. The unity of authority over them. And I give that unity through maintaining the uniform.

Dr Prannoy Roy: It seems you will keep it actually?

General Musharraf: Oh, I don't know. The constitution does allow me after 2007. Let me see.

Timing of elections

On the precise timing of the elections, it now appears as though they could be held as late as January 2008. However, the Pakistani President is clear - this time elections will be held.

Dr Prannoy Roy: If you can spend a little time on elections 2007. When, you know, now it's a duty to tell the country that it's going to be on such and such time. So when do you think it will happen in 2007? First half or second half of 2007?

General Musharraf: Suddenly? I don't know who is talking of suddenly. It's very clear. Why should anyone even be doubting when it will be? They complete their five-year tenure in November and the constitution of Pakistan is very clear. After completion of this tenure, within, I think, it is two or three months, elections have to be held.

Now, this is the constitution of Pakistan. So who the hell is doubting? Unfortunately. It's the people who call themselves democratic. They are trying to impose a dissolution of these assemblies by me, and they call themselves democratic. I am on the contrary saying this assembly must complete its tenure for the first time in the history of Pakistan. Who is more democratic, I don't know. I am a dictator. I am asking them to let the assembly complete its tenure but they are forcing me by all means. Nobody forces me. They are trying to.

Dr Prannoy Roy: So you are saying it will be after November, but before January 2008?

General Musharraf: Yes sir. It has to be.

Dr Prannoy Roy: Pacca!

General Musharraf: It has to be...

Dr Prannoy Roy: And who will win?

General Musharraf: I have a desire and I have a hope. I think that should happen. I have a hope that moderate forces must win. I have started calling it the mother of all elections. I borrowed the term from Saddam Hussein. The mother of all battles. So this is the mother of all elections.

Dr Prannoy Roy: But you shouldn't call it that because he lost that one?

General Musharraf: No, not that way. We should win here. It's a greater issue because of the complexity again of the region and of Pakistan. Moderate forces, enlightened forces must win against these religious elements - obscurantists, I call them. They must go down to the level where they were before. They never had more than three to four per cent. Now they have about 17 or 18 per cent in the assemblies. They are running one of the provinces. They must be defeated.

Excerpts of the interview will be broadcast on the News (Wednesday, December 6, 2006).

 

[TomCat111]

Wonder, why Indians are obsessed with Musharraf and Pakistani politics? Could it be, perhaps Musharraf has become a royal pain in their behinds?

 

[EagleEyes]

Adnan lets not attack here.

Lets just discuss the issue. They have an interest in it, because they care. Whoever comes in power in Pakistan really matters to India on the basis of different issues.

On the other note. Nawaz is working hard to get the opposition united, however, i have a good feeling that they will not be able to succeed. People like the way how Pakistan is going, and it should remain in its path of modernization. Perhaps we cannot give these guys a third chance.

 

[TomCat111]

lets not attack here.

Webby

Thanks for the advice. However, I wonder if you consider such bigoted remarks as attacks?

Not a madrassa graduate you see!

 

[Awesome]

Pakistan's President General Pervez Musharraf has made it clear for the first time that neither former Prime Ministers, Benazir Bhutto nor Nawaz Sharif, will be allowed to contest the next elections in Pakistan, which are due next year.

No it's the first time you've read it. Musharraf has always maintained that they cannot come back.

There CAN be an alliance with their parties but without them.

#1) They've already served their two allotted terms and cannot come back again.

#2) Sharif can't enter the country till 2010.

#3) Benazir will be on trial during the elections if she chooses to come now. She should've come in around 2002 and hoped to have won the case and stay out of prison. Benazir can come, but can't be a candidate anyway.

Army uniform

Musharraf says he will not give up his uniform before the elections in November 2007, but is unsure of the legal position after that. The General, however, remains unclear on whether he will give up his army uniform after the elections.

He should seek re-election. He's only been elected as President once, the first time round was not the usual way he became Pres. So I guess thats the legal position he'd have to work out. Whether or not his first temp term from 2001 to 2002 be counted as Presidency or not.

Timing of elections

On the precise timing of the elections, it now appears as though they could be held as late as January 2008. However, the Pakistani President is clear - this time elections will be held.

As they were the last time...

December elections would completely suck, IMO. Its way too cold in Pakistan.

Excerpts of the interview will be broadcast on the News (Wednesday, December 6, 2006).

Sri try to get them recorded for us... Youtube/Google Video it.

 

[Thunder]

Let them stay where they are. The never did anything good for the country.

 

[Lahori paa jee]

Let them stay where they are. The never did anything good for the country.

Give them seven years of absolute rule and they can do wonders

 

[Srirangan]

Sri try to get them recorded for us... Youtube/Google Video it.

Didn't watch it. But they have video feeds on NDTV.com

 

[araz]

Guys
Please allow me to be the devils advocate. I have no love for either of these corrupt individuals, but the problem here is that they have been accused, tried and condemned by a one man jury. Now if tommorrow Musharraf were to go for any reason, what is to stop these people coming back. Secondly, what would be Musharrafs credentials if he is out of uniform and power. If we had an independant Judiciary, we could have tried them, and then the results would have been acceptable for all fair minded people. If this has not happened, then they have been unfairly treated. Even the legal proceedings against Benazir have been carried out under the influence of the Musharrafs Government. In the interest of fairness they should be allowed to contest the polls and the people should decide their fate. Right or wrong, this in my view would be a democratic way of doing things. Either that or the Government should provide undisputed proof against them in an impartial court of Law and then punish them in accordance with the Law. But you cant accuse people without proof and exclude them from the political process .
I know what I say is against what you want to hear, but unless we do things in accordance with the Law of the Land and give weight to the judicial process, we will continue to be in a political quandery.
WaSalam
Araz

 

[Lahori paa jee]

General Musharraf: It's not easy, because there are some perceptions. At this moment what Pakistan is facing needs a unity, a unity of command over important organs of state. That includes the military, the political and the bureaucracy. A unity of command over them. The unity of authority over them. And I give that unity through maintaining the uniform.

This proves yet again that Mushy was planning to take over the government and the plan hijacking was all a drama.

If after 7 yrs of absolute power Mush finds it difficult to give up uniform, how can we believe he would have resigned in 1999 when he was in office for only one and a half year