Musharraf may quit army for votes: Report

Islamabad, Aug 28: Pakistan's embattled President Pervez Musharraf may quit as army chief in return for support from political parties to re-elect him for another term, a newspaper reported today.

The offer is being discussed by Musharraf's aides with self-exiled former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto in London as part of a power-sharing pact, the Dawn newspaper said.

Musharraf, who has seen his popularity plummet in recent months, wants to get re-elected president for another five years between mid-September and mid-October, before his term as army chief expires at the end of the year.

Under his plan, a general election will then be held at the end of the year or early next year.

But US ally Musharraf faces opposition -- legal challenges on constitutional grounds and perhaps even street protests -- raising concern about stability in the nuclear-armed country seen as vital to efforts to tackle terrorism and pacify Afghanistan.

An agreement with two-time prime minister Bhutto, whose Pakistan People's Party is seen as the country's most popular party, would help Musharraf secure another term.

But liberal-minded Bhutto is insisting he stand down as army chief before he runs for re-election.

''President Musharraf has offered to doff the uniform even before the presidential elections,'' the English-language Dawn reported.

''But in the trade off, he wants all political parties to agree to elect him president ... after the new assemblies come into being following the next general election.'' A cabinet minister declined to comment except to say Musharraf had made up his mind on his uniform.

''The uniform is no longer an issue between Benazir Bhutto and President Musharraf,'' said Railways Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed, a close ally of the president's who held talks with Musharraf yesterday.

An aide to Bhutto said Aug. 31 was the deadline for a deal with Musharraf. She will then decide when she will return.

Musharraf is also facing an imminent challenge from another exiled former prime minister, Nawaz Sharif, who Musharraf ousted in 1999 and later sent into exile.

The Supreme Court ruled last week that Sharif should be allowed to return and he later said he expected to be back by mid-September.

Musharraf is expected to launch his bid for a new term in the third week of September.

Amendments

Ahmed said the government might push some constitutional changes through parliament if a pact with Bhutto was finalised. He did not elaborate.

Analysts said amendments were expected to include a waiver on a ban on state servants -- military and civil -- having to wait two years after resigning before running for office. That would clear the way for a new term for Musharraf.

Other amendments would remove a ban on a prime minister serving a third term and grant immunity to Bhutto, who faces corruption charges, and other officials who served in the late 1980s and 1990s, analysts said.

Musharraf and Bhutto are seen as natural allies. They met for talks in Abu Dhabi last month. The United States, keen to ensure Pakistan's support in the war on terrorism, would also like to see them cooperate.

Musharraf has seen his popularity evaporate since he tried to dismiss the country's top judge in March and analysts say he is at his weakest since he seized power.

In an ominous sign for Musharraf, a junior cabinet minister resigned yesterday over the president's plan to contest the presidential election in uniform.

Reuters
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