Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf may quit as army chief in
return for support from political parties to re-elect him for
another term, a newspaper reported yesterday.
The offer is being discussed by Musharraf's aides with
self-exiled former prime minister Benazir Bhutto in London as part
of a power-sharing pact, the Dawn newspaper said.
Musharraf, who has seen his popularity plummet in recent months,
wants to get re-elected president for another five years between
mid-September and mid-October, before his term as army chief
expires at the end of the year.
Under his plan, a general election will then be held at the end
of the year or early next year.
But US ally Musharraf faces opposition - legal challenges on
constitutional grounds and perhaps even street protests.
An agreement with two-time prime minister Bhutto, whose Pakistan
People's Party is seen as the country's most popular party, would
help Musharraf secure another term.
But liberal-minded Bhutto is insisting he stand down as army
chief before he runs for re-election.
"President Musharraf has offered to doff the uniform even before
the presidential elections," the English-language Dawn
reported.
"But in the trade off, he wants all political parties to agree
to elect him president... after the new assemblies come into being
following the next general election."
A Cabinet minister declined to comment except to say Musharraf
had made up his mind on his uniform.
An aide to Bhutto said August 31 was the deadline for a deal
with Musharraf. She will then decide when she will return.
(China Daily via agencies August 29, 2007)
