Mush vows to act against terrorists as hostage drama unfolds
Facing protests here demanding his ouster and an embarrassing hostage drama back home, Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf today vowed to crackdown on militants and hold "free, fair and transparent elections" on February 18.
By PTI |
LONDON: Facing protests here demanding his ouster and an embarrassing hostage drama back home, Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf today vowed to crackdown on militants and hold "free, fair and transparent elections" on February 18.
"These acts are acts of desperation," the Pakistani leader said referring to the militants taking hostage 250 children in a remote school in the terrorist-infested northwestern area after an hour-long meeting with British Prime Minister Gordon Brown.
Condemning all forms of extremism and kidnapping, Brown expressed relief that the children were released safely.
Musharraf said that it was by accident the extremists took the children as hostage.
"The extremists were being chased and it was incidental that they entered a school and took the children as hostage. It has been resolved peacefully," he said at a joint press conference with Brown.
As slogan-shouting demonstrators led by former cricketer and opposition leader Imran Khan and his ex-wife Jemima gathered outside 10 Downing Street demanding that Musharraf step down, the Pakistani leader assured Brown that the country "will have a peaceful transition (to democracy)."
Musharraf said he had a detailed discussion with Brown on bilateral relations, also on the "democratic transition" that would take place in Pakistan and "our strong desire to go ahead with the elections which will be fair, free and transparent on Feb. 18."
Musharraf said he had "excellent interaction" with the British Prime Minister who has assured Pakistan of "financial assistance" in the field of education.
"These acts are acts of desperation," the Pakistani leader said referring to the militants taking hostage 250 children in a remote school in the terrorist-infested northwestern area after an hour-long meeting with British Prime Minister Gordon Brown.
Condemning all forms of extremism and kidnapping, Brown expressed relief that the children were released safely.
Musharraf said that it was by accident the extremists took the children as hostage.
"The extremists were being chased and it was incidental that they entered a school and took the children as hostage. It has been resolved peacefully," he said at a joint press conference with Brown.
As slogan-shouting demonstrators led by former cricketer and opposition leader Imran Khan and his ex-wife Jemima gathered outside 10 Downing Street demanding that Musharraf step down, the Pakistani leader assured Brown that the country "will have a peaceful transition (to democracy)."
ADVERTISEMENT
Musharraf said he had a detailed discussion with Brown on bilateral relations, also on the "democratic transition" that would take place in Pakistan and "our strong desire to go ahead with the elections which will be fair, free and transparent on Feb. 18."
Musharraf said he had "excellent interaction" with the British Prime Minister who has assured Pakistan of "financial assistance" in the field of education.
Download
The Economic Times Business News App for the Latest News in Business, Sensex, Stock Market Updates & More.
The Economic Times Business News App for the Latest News in Business, Sensex, Stock Market Updates & More.
Download
The Economic Times News App for Quarterly Results, Latest News in ITR, Business, Share Market, Live Sensex News & More.
The Economic Times News App for Quarterly Results, Latest News in ITR, Business, Share Market, Live Sensex News & More.
ADVERTISEMENT
