Negotiations with Musharraf for orderly transition to democracy: PPP

The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) has said that negotiations with President Pervez Musharraf were aimed at an orderly transition to democracy and civilian rule in the country rather than for personal benefits.

Islamabad, Oct 10 : The Pakistan People's Party (PPP) has said that negotiations with President Pervez Musharraf were aimed at an orderly transition to democracy and civilian rule in the country rather than for personal benefits.

The party's goal was to set the course for a successful transition to democracy and to politically counter extremist forces, PPP spokesman, Farhatullah Babar, said.

"Protests in the streets lead to loss of life, liberty and livelihood, and we have always used protests as a last option when other doors are closed," he said.

Commenting on the National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO), Babar said that it was a broad package of reforms for facilitating a transition to democracy.

Babar said that through the ordinance the PPP had won, for all politicians, a promise from Musharraf to doff his military uniform, ensure transparent elections and avoid political victimisation.

"Bhutto could have secured an arrangement favourable to herself long ago. Instead, she endured exile and a media campaign, while her husband suffered over eight years in prison, refusing a personal arrangement for political principle," he added.

Babar said that the call to drop politically motivated cases was also included in the Charter of Democracy and in resolutions adopted by the Pakistan Bar Association, the Alliance for the Restoration of Democracy and other political parties.

He said the PPP's negotiations were not structured around any power-sharing concept, as only the masses would determine which political party would form the government.

ANI