PAKISTAN: Former Pakistan PM Benazir Bhutto welcomes 'historic' decision by Musharraf to give up army uniform

Record ID: 1531142

  • Title: PAKISTAN: Former Pakistan PM Benazir Bhutto welcomes 'historic' decision by Musharraf to give up army uniform
  • Date: 28th November 2007
  • Summary: JOURNALISTS CONCLUSION OF NEWS CONFERENCE
  • Embargoed: 13th December 2007 14:54
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Pakistan
  • Country: Pakistan
  • Topics: Domestic Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVACQKFAWKZ6LQS5P6CBER3ODFDL
  • Aspect Ratio: 4:3
  • Story Text: Former Pakistan PM Benazir Bhutto welcomes 'historic' decision by Musharraf to give up army uniform.
    Former Pakistani prime minister Benazir Bhutto said on Tuesday (November 27) she was almost certain President Pervez Musharraf would resign as army chief as promised but expressed a slight doubt that it would happen, recalling history about other military rulers in the country.
    U.S. ally Musharraf is due to step down from the army on Wednesday (November 28) and be sworn in as a civilian president on Thursday (November 29), fulfilling one of the long-held demands of his political rivals and Western allies.
    At a news briefing in Karachi, Bhutto said that she was sure that Musharraf would follow through on his promise but said that the final proof would be when it did happen.

    "I know that is 99.9 percent near that General Musharraf will be taking this historic decision to be the first chief of army staff to take off that, to retire as chief of army staff," she she told journalists slightly past midnight while holding news conference upon her return in Karachi from family stronghold Larkana.

    "But it is still too soon to say anything, for that 0.1 percent still remains. So, let it happen," Bhutto said.
    Musharraf bid farewell to military colleagues on Tuesday in preparation to become a civilian president after all main opposition parties signed up for a January general election.
    Musharraf is quitting as army chief after securing a second five-year term thanks to a new panel of friendly judges who validated his Oct.
    6 election victory.
    Musharraf will be replaced as army commander by his former intelligence chief, General Ashfaq Kayani. He is well regarded by Western counterparts and also worked with Bhutto after she first became prime minister in the late 1980s.
    Anlysts say Musharraf will be able to count on Kayani's backing as long as huge protests don't erupt.
    Former prime ministers back from exile Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif both filed election nominations by Monday's deadline though both said they might still boycott the Jan. 8 vote.
    Musharraf has seen his popularity slide since March when he tried to fire the country's independent-minded top judge, setting off a campaign against him by lawyers and the opposition.
    Analysts say his main reason for imposing emergency rule was to clear out Supreme Court judges who were apparently about to rule in favour of challenges to his Oct. 6 re-election as president by parliament.

    "As mentioned, the political prisoners should be freed, there should be an independent election commission, and if this giant step is going to be taken then why not to take other steps that can have such a good effect.
    But lets wait and see whether that step is finally taken,"Bhutto said.
    Many of those initially detained have been released, but others have been held since.
    Sharif intends consulting with Bhutto's Pakistan People's Party to see if they can work out a common strategy.
    Bhutto welcomed Sharif's return, saying she wanted a level playing field for all parties.
    Sharif, ousted by Musharraf eight years ago, flew home from exile in Saudi Arabia on Sunday (November 25) saying Musharraf had taken the country to the brink of disaster.
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