Musharraf may step down as Army Chief in October

Pakistan President General Pervez Musharraf is likely to step down as the Army Chief of the country in October this year when his current term ends.

London, July 2 : Pakistan President General Pervez Musharraf is likely to step down as the Army Chief of the country in October this year when his current term ends.

According to The Sunday Telegraph, dissatisfaction with the Musharraf regime is growing within the country, which might force the General to quit the top army post.

Officials said that the government has chosen to dissolve the assemblies after the decision of the court on the presidential reference against suspended Supreme Court Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry.

The UK daily further claimed that Musharraf is hoping to strike a deal with former Prime Minister and PPP leader Benazir Bhutto to ensure his re-election from the outgoing Parliament.

The deal will allow her to return from exile and become the Prime Minister in return for the support of her opposition Pakistan People's Party, the Dawn quoted the report, as saying.

However, Benazir feels it is difficult to predict anything at this moment, and says the situation is "fluid, uncertain and unpredictable."

"The military dictatorship has undermined the constitution, the civil institutions and the parliament. It is one-man rule and hence there is an unpredictability of what might happen," she said.

Benazir also expressed concerns over the credibility of the forthcoming general elections, claiming 30 per cent of the population had been barred from voting.

"Unless all eligible voters are permitted to vote, the elections would be rigged and the results predetermined before the first ballot was cast," she said.

ANI