Martial law in Pakistan, if Musharraf prevented from re-election

The Pakistan Army would counter all possible moves to stop President Pervez Musharraf from seeking re-election, it might even impose martial law, warns a Pakistani intellectual.

Washington, Sep 19 : The Pakistan Army would counter all possible moves to stop President Pervez Musharraf from seeking re-election, it might even impose martial law, warns a Pakistani intellectual.

Pakistan Military was not yet willing to transfer control to a civilian set-up and would resist any move to end its control over political institutions, I A Rahman, a leading Pakistani intellectual, told reporters here.

Rahman went on to say that the military had enormous interest in the civilian economy, and was not willing to give it up any time soon.

Commenting on former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's deportation, Rahman said that Sharif's attempt to return home failed to bring the people out in the streets because his party had not made sufficient preparations for the event.

The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) was expecting that the Jamaat-i-Islami would bring its workers to Islamabad airport, but the Jamaat failed to deliver, the Dawn quoted him, as saying.

"If the forthcoming elections are free and fair, the PML-N will take Punjab, but there's no guarantee that the elections will be free and fair," Rahman said.

He also said that despite legal and political hurdles, Musharraf might succeed in getting re-elected as president from the present assembly.

"And if he is re-elected for another five-year term, those who win the next election may not want to rock the boat either," Rahman added.

"But if Gen Musharraf fails to get re-elected, the army may bring another general," he warned.

ANI