Support for Musharraf touches an all time low

Support for Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf has reached an all time low, according to an opinion poll, and a think-tank has warned that his bid to retain power could fuel religious radicalism.

Islamabad, Aug 2 : Support for Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf has reached an all time low, according to an opinion poll, and a think-tank has warned that his bid to retain power could fuel 'religious radicalism'.

According to the Washington-based International Republican Institute, 63 per cent of respondents are dissatisfied with Musharraf, and want him to quit.

Musharraf's approval rating slipped to 34 per cent in June from 54 per cent in February, the poll said.

His disapproval rate rose to 49 per cent in June from 26 per cent in February, the poll added.

The poll found 72 per cent of the respondents not supporting Musharraf's decision to suspend Supreme Court Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammed Chaudhry.

A third of the respondents said that they supported his re-election, down from half in February. Opposition to his re-election rose to 64 per cent in June from 40 per cent in February.

The poll was based on interviews with 4,000 randomly selected adults in cities and villages across Pakistan, the Dawn reported.

Voters are increasingly pessimistic about the economy, their security, and the direction of the country, with most of the blame directed at the government, the institute said in its analysis of the poll results.

Meanwhile, the International Crisis Group, a Brussels-based think tank, has said that the end of the Musharraf's regime is 'a matter of time'.

The ICG said Musharraf 'is showing a dangerous determination to cling to power at all costs.

If Musharraf tries to rig the elections or proclaims emergency rule, it could lead to street demonstrations and violent clashes with the military, the report warned.

ANI