Bhutto asks people to rise in revolt; may boycott polls
Opposition leader Benazir Bhutto on Monday urged Pakistanis of all shades to join a motorcade protest against President Pervez Musharraf’s Emergency rule and vowed it would go ahead even if police try to block her.
By Agencies |
LAHORE / LONDON: Opposition leader Benazir Bhutto on Monday urged Pakistanis of all shades to join a motorcade protest against President Pervez Musharraf’s Emergency rule and vowed it would go ahead even if police try to block her. Gen Musharraf set off a storm of criticism when he imposed Emergency rule on November 3 and has come under pressure from Western allies and rivals to set the nuclear-armed country back on the path to democracy.
He is likely to face more such calls when the 53-nation Commonwealth meets in London on Monday to discuss Pakistan. Ms Bhutto plans to lead a 3-4 day procession from Lahore to Islamabad on Tuesday to demand General Musharraf quit as army chief, end Emergency rule, reinstate the constitution and free thousands of detained lawyers and opponents — including many from her party.
Ms Bhutto said that her party may boycott elections if Gen Musharraf holds the polls under Emergency rule. Gen Musharraf said on Sunday that the parliamentary elections would be held on schedule by mid-January, but indicated they would still take place under the state of Emergency he imposed nine days ago.
“Boycotting the election is an option with us,” she said. Her Pakistan People’s Party is the largest political group in the country and any boycott would damage the credibility of an election.
Meanwhile, foreign ministers from the Commonwealth of Britain and its former colonies were debating on Monday whether to suspend Pakistan from the group if it does not lift its nine-day-old state of Emergency.
The Commonwealth Ministerial Action group was meeting to consider options ranging from a deadline for the lifting of Emergency measures to suspension of Pakistan from the 53-nation alliance.
“Suspension is one of the possibilities, but there are other sanctions that are possible,” said Maltese foreign minister Michael Frendo, who chairs the action group. “We will look at all the options and choose the one that best expresses the principles of the Commonwealth.”
British foreign secretary David Miliband said last week that the Commonwealth should consider suspension if Gen Musharraf does not lift Emergency measures.
He is likely to face more such calls when the 53-nation Commonwealth meets in London on Monday to discuss Pakistan. Ms Bhutto plans to lead a 3-4 day procession from Lahore to Islamabad on Tuesday to demand General Musharraf quit as army chief, end Emergency rule, reinstate the constitution and free thousands of detained lawyers and opponents — including many from her party.
Ms Bhutto said that her party may boycott elections if Gen Musharraf holds the polls under Emergency rule. Gen Musharraf said on Sunday that the parliamentary elections would be held on schedule by mid-January, but indicated they would still take place under the state of Emergency he imposed nine days ago.
“Boycotting the election is an option with us,” she said. Her Pakistan People’s Party is the largest political group in the country and any boycott would damage the credibility of an election.
Meanwhile, foreign ministers from the Commonwealth of Britain and its former colonies were debating on Monday whether to suspend Pakistan from the group if it does not lift its nine-day-old state of Emergency.
The Commonwealth Ministerial Action group was meeting to consider options ranging from a deadline for the lifting of Emergency measures to suspension of Pakistan from the 53-nation alliance.
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“Suspension is one of the possibilities, but there are other sanctions that are possible,” said Maltese foreign minister Michael Frendo, who chairs the action group. “We will look at all the options and choose the one that best expresses the principles of the Commonwealth.”
British foreign secretary David Miliband said last week that the Commonwealth should consider suspension if Gen Musharraf does not lift Emergency measures.
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