Opposition to resign if Musharraf gets himself re-elected

Islamabad, Apr 28 (UNI) Lawmakers of opposition parties in Pakistan would resign en bloc from parliament if President Pervez Musharraf goes ahead with his plan to get himself re-elected from the present assemblies, an opposition leader claimed.

Dawn newspaper quoted former Premier Nawaz Sharif's Pakistan Muslim League leader Ehsan Iqbal as saying yesterday that the President's announcement of seeking re-election from the present assemblies was unethical, undemocratic and unconstitutional.

"This shows that Musharraf is afraid of fair and free elections and wants to hang on to power at all cost", he said.

He also spoke on rumours of a power sharing deal between Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and Musharraf, saying the PML-N and the PPP have pledged in the Charter of Democracy that they will not enter into any deal with the government.

Once arch rivals of each other, Nawaz Sharif and Benazir Bhutto had signed the charter in London last year.

"However, we are watching with caution recent reported statements of PPP leaders about the deal and their avoiding directly attacking General Musharraf", Iqbal said adding that " We can't answer on behalf of the PPP. We're against talks or agreement with the government." He said any deal with General Musharraf would prove to be a "poison pill". Any party which will not resign and stay in parliament then, even if it abstains from voting or votes against the president's re-election will actually legitimise his re-election and will be considered as a Musharraf ally.

He said it was a defining struggle for the future of Pakistan whether it would become a society governed by rule of law and constitutional supremacy or by the barrel of gun.

"General Musharraf represents military-dominated politics, therefore he is not acceptable whether in uniform or without uniform." Mr Iqbal said the President must resign and a neutral national consensus government should be formed to hold fair and free elections under an independent election commission.

"Unfortunately, the armed forces are patronising the most discredited and corrupt elements of politics and as a result, the role of military is becoming more and more controversial," he alleged.

UNI