Musharraf prepared to give up uniform before elections

President Pervez Musharrafs trouble-shooters have gone to London with a package that includes Musharrafs willingness to give up his uniform even prior to the presidential election, sources said.

Islamabad, Aug 27 : President Pervez Musharraf's trouble-shooters have gone to London with a package that includes Musharraf's willingness to give up his uniform even prior to the presidential election, sources said.

The presidential emissaries are believed to have begun direct and indirect negotiations with exiled former premiers, Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif.

Sources said that the package was firmed up at a top-level meeting attended by the Chaudhry cousins, a couple of senior ministers, Hamid Nasir Chattha, top aides and security chiefs.

The central issue being discussed in these contacts revolves around the new formulation evolved in the Presidency to forge a national reconciliation involving mainstream parties.

Its salient features include Musharraf's willingness to quit the army post provided he is accepted as president for the next five years, The Nation quoted sources, as saying.

They said Musharraf would not insist on getting elected from the present assemblies if a commitment was given that the new assemblies would vote for him.

The power to dissolve the assembly under Article 52-B would be withdrawn, and general amnesty would be given to all political leaders. The ban on becoming Prime Minister for third time would be removed. In return, the constitutional hurdles in Musharraf's candidature would also be removed.

Bhutto is getting restive because of quiet outrage surging within the rank and file of her party over the deal, and its resultant impact of PPP's total isolation.

She has given an ultimatum to Musharraf to hasten the promised implementation of the deal.

The Supreme Court verdict on Nawaz Sharif's petition and his determination to return to the country have added urgency to Bhutto's concerns because of the huge political space she has conceded to Sharif by aligning with Musharraf.

The President's emissaries are trying to dissuade Benazir from taking any desperate step that may further complicate the situation.

To Nawaz Sharif, the message being conveyed is designed to delay his return till an arrangement satisfactory to both sides is evolved.

Sources said that Musharraf had asked the participants in the meeting to undertake initiatives that, in their wisdom, may resolve the current crisis that is deepening by each passing day.

He agreed with a consensus opinion in the meeting that the move to woo Bhutto has created more problems and antagonised friends and foes alike, they added.

A major snag in Musharraf's package is that while it envisages somewhat honourable way out for him in addition to five more years in office, his institution would return to the barracks badly battered in the eyes of the public.

In the meeting, Musharraf even hinted at other options if the efforts for national consensus did not materialise. The obvious hint was the re-imposition of martial law, sources said.

"If Musharraf imposes martial law, he would be its first casualty," a source said.

The next strongman would oversee democratic revival, facilitate the appointment of a new army chief and himself retire honourably after salvaging the honour of his institution, he said.

ANI