Musharraf may shed uniform in lieu of support from political parties for re-election

Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf is said to have offered shedding his uniform in lieu of support from all political parties to re-elect him for another five-year tenure.

Islamabad/London, Aug 28 : Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf is said to have offered shedding his uniform in lieu of support from all political parties to re-elect him for another five-year tenure.

However, Musharraf wants the powers of the office of the President to remain untouched till he would be in the office.

These issues were apparently discussed at a 'final meeting' between Musharraf's team of emissaries, led by ISI chief Lt Gen Ashfaq Kiani, and former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto in London, the Dawn reported.

The meeting was also understood to have discussed the possibilities of convening an all-party conference for achieving a 'grand national reconciliation'.

According to sources, the other issues discussed at the meeting include formation of a national government, which would then appoint a Chief Election Commissioner by consensus, Benazir's demand of a general amnesty for all political leaders and removal of the ban on two-time prime ministers.

Meanwhile, a Daily Times report quoted sources as saying that Musharraf is willing to become a civilian head of state, but only after his re-election.

"He will continue to wear uniform till November 15. Although the Constitution allows him to hold two offices till December 31, he has expressed his willingness to step down as army chief after his re-election," the sources said, adding that it all depended on how things would move in London.

They went on to say that there was also a possibility that the President would agree to curtail his powers to dissolve the assemblies under Article 58(2-b) of the Constitution in return to "mainstream" opposition parties' support to re-elect him.

"But one thing is clear that there will be no power-sharing before the general election," the sources said, adding, "It will be a give and take. There cannot be a deal without a quid pro quo."

Musharraf is also said to have no objection to "not pursuing" the cases against Benazir as part of a "package deal."

The Online reported that National Security Council Secretary Tariq Aziz and Benazir had agreed to finalise the agreement by the end of August, adding that points of the agreements have been written down.

Besides the ISI chief, the government's negotiating team comprises of Secretary-General of National Security Council (NSC), President's Chief of Staff Hamid Javed and the country's LPG king Iqbal Z Ahmed.

The PPP team headed by Benazir includes Makhdoom Amin Fahim and policeman-turned- business tycoon Rehman Malik.

ANI