Bhutto freed, Musharraf swears in new govt
President Pervez Musharraf swore in a new caretaker government Friday to steer emergency-ruled Pakistan toward elections.
By Agencies |
ISLAMABAD: President Pervez Musharraf swore in a new caretaker government Friday to steer emergency-ruled Pakistan toward elections, hours after former premier Benazir Bhutto was freed from house arrest.
The oath-taking ceremony came as a senior US official headed for Islamabad to press for an end to the state of emergency, which the opposition says will make the polls due by early January an unfair sham.
Military ruler Musharraf hailed the previous government for stabilising Pakistan as he swore in the interim set-up, led by caretaker premier and close ally Mohammedmian Soomro.
"Today we are creating history because I think never has Pakistan seen such a smooth transition of government," Musharraf, dressed in a traditional black tunic instead of his army uniform, said at the ceremony.
Parliament dissolved at midnight on Thursday after completing a five-year term for the first time in the nuclear-armed nation's turbulent history.
"I take pride in the fact that, being a man in uniform, I introduced the essence of democracy," he added.
Musharraf has promised legislative elections by January 9, but opposition leaders are considering a boycott and there is growing international anger at his refusal to end the state of emergency he imposed on November 3.
Hours earlier authorities withdrew a seven-day detention order on Bhutto, who has been holed up behind barbed wire at an aide's house in Lahore since Tuesday.
"The detention order has been withdrawn but normal police security will stay with her," said Khusro Pervaiz, home secretary of Punjab province, adding that Bhutto was detained to protect her from the threat of suicide bombings.
A leading member of Bhutto's Pakistan People's Party said security forces were still around the house.
"We are free from detention but the barbed wire and police are still out there," senator Safdar Abbasi told AFP.
State media said Asma Jahangir, chairwoman of the independent Human Rights Commission of Pakistan and a special UN rights rapporteur, had also been freed from house arrest.
The United States has led international calls for Musharraf to restore the constitution, step down as head of the powerful army, free thousands of people detained under emergency laws and ensure free and fair elections.
John Negroponte, number two to US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, was due to arrive Friday to press US concerns. He is expected to meet Musharraf, but officials said he had no plans to meet Bhutto.
Washington has been signalling its growing impatience with Musharraf over emergency rule, which he said was necessary to tackle Islamic militancy and a meddling judiciary.
US Defence Secretary Robert Gates even questioned his future effectiveness as a US ally in the fight against Al-Qaeda and the Taliban.
Musharraf's "ability to continue to be a partner in the war on terror very much depends on how events unfold over the next few weeks in Pakistan," Gates told a Pentagon news conference.
The oath-taking ceremony came as a senior US official headed for Islamabad to press for an end to the state of emergency, which the opposition says will make the polls due by early January an unfair sham.
Military ruler Musharraf hailed the previous government for stabilising Pakistan as he swore in the interim set-up, led by caretaker premier and close ally Mohammedmian Soomro.
"Today we are creating history because I think never has Pakistan seen such a smooth transition of government," Musharraf, dressed in a traditional black tunic instead of his army uniform, said at the ceremony.
Parliament dissolved at midnight on Thursday after completing a five-year term for the first time in the nuclear-armed nation's turbulent history.
"I take pride in the fact that, being a man in uniform, I introduced the essence of democracy," he added.
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Musharraf has promised legislative elections by January 9, but opposition leaders are considering a boycott and there is growing international anger at his refusal to end the state of emergency he imposed on November 3.
Hours earlier authorities withdrew a seven-day detention order on Bhutto, who has been holed up behind barbed wire at an aide's house in Lahore since Tuesday.
"The detention order has been withdrawn but normal police security will stay with her," said Khusro Pervaiz, home secretary of Punjab province, adding that Bhutto was detained to protect her from the threat of suicide bombings.
A leading member of Bhutto's Pakistan People's Party said security forces were still around the house.
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"We are free from detention but the barbed wire and police are still out there," senator Safdar Abbasi told AFP.
State media said Asma Jahangir, chairwoman of the independent Human Rights Commission of Pakistan and a special UN rights rapporteur, had also been freed from house arrest.
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The United States has led international calls for Musharraf to restore the constitution, step down as head of the powerful army, free thousands of people detained under emergency laws and ensure free and fair elections.
John Negroponte, number two to US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, was due to arrive Friday to press US concerns. He is expected to meet Musharraf, but officials said he had no plans to meet Bhutto.
Washington has been signalling its growing impatience with Musharraf over emergency rule, which he said was necessary to tackle Islamic militancy and a meddling judiciary.
US Defence Secretary Robert Gates even questioned his future effectiveness as a US ally in the fight against Al-Qaeda and the Taliban.
Musharraf's "ability to continue to be a partner in the war on terror very much depends on how events unfold over the next few weeks in Pakistan," Gates told a Pentagon news conference.
Senior US government officials quoted by The New York Times said they fear Musharraf may fall, and that Washington should consider contingency plans with Pakistan's military elite.
US State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said Musharraf needed to put Pakistan back on the path to democratic rule, which would benefit all "those who have an interest in fighting violent extremists around the world."
Bhutto has also been ratcheting up the pressure, telephoning key political figures here in a bid to form a united opposition front.
She spent two hours in talks Thursday with US consul general Bryan Hunt. The United States had quietly backed Bhutto's return to the country last month and talks for a possible power-sharing deal with Musharraf.
However, Bhutto says the negotiations are over and vowed this week that she would never serve in a government with Musharraf.
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