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Rawalpindi: Pakistan President General Pervez Musharraf said yesterday he expects 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 interviews yesterday, Musharraf accused former prime minister Benazir Bhutto, currently under house arrest, of fueling political turmoil, and rejected Western pressure to quickly lift emergency rule, which he indicated was likely to continue through January elections.
"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 powerful army by today, 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, but expected it to happen within this month. He dismissed a threat from Britain and its former colonies to suspend Pakistan from the Commonwealth unless the emergency is lifted by November 22.
Considered position
"I take decisions in Pakistan's interest and I don't take ultimatums from anyone," he said. In another interview, Musharraf said he had considered resigning over the political crisis in Pakistan. He told Sky TV he had considered his position, but now felt he was the man to lead Pakistan into democracy and would not step down unless and until stability returned to his country. "I am not a dictator, I want democracy."
A Sky reporter who had conducted the interview said Musharraf had told her he felt let down by the West and betrayed by the media. "We may lose the battle on terror because of misreporting by some parts of the media in Pakistan and around the world," he was quoted as saying.
Meanwhile, the White House said that it was "hard to imagine" that Pakistan's coming elections could be judged as free and fair if they occur under a widely condemned state of emergency.
Your comments
I wonder why people are not thinking what will happen if Musharraf resigns and takes off his uniform. These politicians who have stolen the country's wealth for years will come back and it will be the same story. In Musharraf's term, the government has done a great deal of projects for the common people as compared to other governments. I don?t say Musharraf is doing good, I wish emergency had not happened, but the government might not had any other option. This Musharraf government is better than any other government in Pakistan's history.
Mehdi
Dubai,UAE
Posted: November 15, 2007, 14:15
Musharraf, like George W. Bush learned he can keep on saying something and just keep on changing his word and can still be in power
Macdonald
London,England
Posted: November 15, 2007, 13:18
Everybody think about this seriously - if Musharraf goes, terrorists will take over Pakistan.
Vijay
Mumbai,India
Posted: November 15, 2007, 13:00
There is absolutely no doubt that Pres. Musharraf is the only person who is currently thinking of Pakistan rather than himself. History has proved that both Nawaz Sharif and Benazir Bhutto with 2 sessions each in power have not been able to deliver democracy in Pakistan as they both thought of powering their own pockets during their tenure.
Faisal
Dubai,UAE
Posted: November 15, 2007, 12:51
A leader who should not and will never bow down to pressure that will destroy not only a nation but a leading state in the Muslim world. The state of emergency was vital to stabilize the nation and the region in the long-run. Support this man, for he is all that is best for Pakistan.
Rahim
Toronto,Canada
Posted: November 15, 2007, 12:48
Musharaff has now become power hungry and is scared that the people of Pakistan will hang him to death. When he says the West has let him down, what he means is that he expected the US and UK to support his staying as the Army Chief.
Rajveer
Jaipur,India
Posted: November 15, 2007, 09:36
The fact is, it is all about the throne. It is that simple.
Karlo
Dubai,UAE
Posted: November 15, 2007, 09:12
President Musharraf is a real leader. He is best for Pakistan, for its people and for its political and economic growth. He must continue as the Army Chief as well as the President.
Sajid
Dubai,UAE
Posted: November 15, 2007, 08:39
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