Elections will allow Musharraf to appoint govt of his choice: expert

Singapore, Jan 24 (UNI) Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf's team of current parliamentarians will be re-elected at the February 18 general elections, allowing him to appoint a government of his choice, Brigadier Yasub Ali Dogar, a former director of Inter Services Intelligence of Pakistan, said here today.

Although President Musharraf is not as popular as he was about a year ago, chances of him having a government of his allies are good, Brig Dogar told a seminar at the Singapore Institute of South Asian Studies.

He ruled out a challenge from Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) of the late Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif lead PML-N, though PPP,led by late Bhutto's husband Asif Ali Zardari is expected to perform strong at home in Sindh province during February 18 general elections.

But he pointed out that PPP has not drawn much attention in other parts of Pakistan.

The elections will also see a high number of independent candidates winning and joining Mr Musharraf while it is still difficult to see an alliance of Mr Zardari and Nawaz Sharif parties, he said.

Nevertheless, PPP is expected to be one of the biggest political party though it may not command the majority, he added.

Brig Dogar also pointed out that the Pakistan Army was no longer keen to be involved in politics and was more keen to be a professional soldiers guarding the country.

The current top brass of the army has been keeping a distance from the politicians, he added.

Pakistanis has also matured in their thinking towards India as the two countries would work together for the prosperity of South Asian regions, he told the seminar.

They no longer regard India as an external threat and he ruled out any looming war between the two neighbours that have been fighting wars and exchanging border fires since 1948.

But he assured that the Pakistani Army was professionally capable to tackle the internal terrorit threat.

The Army has the will and ability to fight the terrorism in the country, he added.

UNI XC ARB VC1855