Benazir, Musharraf agree on power sharing
Saturday, 6 October 2007
ISLAMABAD, Oct 5 (AFP): Former Pakistani premier Benazir Bhutto and President Pervez Musharraf agreed Thursday on a national reconciliation accord that paves the way for a power-sharing deal, the government and her party said.
The agreement gives an amnesty for politicians who served in Pakistan between 1988 and 1999, effectively clearing opposition leader Bhutto of the corruption charges that forced her into exile eight years ago.
The deal takes some of the pressure off staunch US ally Musharraf ahead of a presidential election Saturday, a vote that Bhutto had earlier threatened to rob of credibility by pulling her MPs from parliament.
It came after a day of frantic negotiations in Islamabad and in London where two-time prime minister Bhutto held talks with key members of her Pakistan People's Party.
Bhutto has vowed to return to Pakistan by October 18.
"The agreement says that there will be an across-the-board indemnity for public office holders between 1988 and 1999," a senior government official who has seen the draft said on condition of anonymity.
It also says that if Pakistan's main graft-busting body wants to lodge a case against a politician it must first go through a special parliamentary committee "to avoid allegations of political motivations", the official said.
"The ordinance is not party or person-specific."
Bhutto's party has for its part agreed to withdraw a legal petition filed by its vice president in the Supreme Court that seeks to have the presidential election postponed, the official said.
A senior party member in Islamabad confirmed the deal.
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court threw Pakistan into political uncertainty Friday on the eve of presidential elections with the surprise ruling that the winner will not be declared for at least 11 days after the vote. The decision puts a question mark over US-backed President Gen. Pervez Musharraf's relection bid.
The court said that Pakistan could hold the presidential election Saturday but may only declare the winner after the court reconvenes 11 days later to decide whether Musharraf, the expected victor, was eligible to run. The uncertainty that creates also clouds the prospect of Musharraf and former premier Benazir Bhutto forming a liberal, pro-American alliance.
Presiding Justice Javed Iqbal said that hearings on three petitions filed by Musharraf's opponents claiming the president is ineligible will resume on Oct. 17.
His current term expires Nov. 15.
The government quickly said it would respect the court ruling.
"We have always accepted and respected court rulings, and we also accept today's ruling," Deputy Information Minister Tariq Azim told The Associated Press.
Asked about the prospect of political uncertainty after the vote by lawmakers, who pick the president, Azim said, "The Supreme Court must have thought about it, but one has to go by whatever the court rules."
Opponents have urged the court to postpone the election and consider their argument that Musharraf's retention of his powerful role as army chief makes him ineligible to run under the constitution.
Musharraf has promised to quit his army post and restore civilian rule by Nov. 15 if he wins re-election.
However, Attorney General Malik Mohammed Qayyum said Friday on Geo television that Musharraf might continue as military chief if the court proceedings drag on.
A lawyer for Wajihuddin Ahmed, Musharraf's chief presidential rival and one of the petitioners, acknowledged that the triumph was partial.
"We have achieved 60 per cent victory," Hamid Khan, a lawyer for Ahmed told The Associated Press outside the courtroom. "We are very hopeful that we will be successful in the Supreme Court."
The agreement gives an amnesty for politicians who served in Pakistan between 1988 and 1999, effectively clearing opposition leader Bhutto of the corruption charges that forced her into exile eight years ago.
The deal takes some of the pressure off staunch US ally Musharraf ahead of a presidential election Saturday, a vote that Bhutto had earlier threatened to rob of credibility by pulling her MPs from parliament.
It came after a day of frantic negotiations in Islamabad and in London where two-time prime minister Bhutto held talks with key members of her Pakistan People's Party.
Bhutto has vowed to return to Pakistan by October 18.
"The agreement says that there will be an across-the-board indemnity for public office holders between 1988 and 1999," a senior government official who has seen the draft said on condition of anonymity.
It also says that if Pakistan's main graft-busting body wants to lodge a case against a politician it must first go through a special parliamentary committee "to avoid allegations of political motivations", the official said.
"The ordinance is not party or person-specific."
Bhutto's party has for its part agreed to withdraw a legal petition filed by its vice president in the Supreme Court that seeks to have the presidential election postponed, the official said.
A senior party member in Islamabad confirmed the deal.
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court threw Pakistan into political uncertainty Friday on the eve of presidential elections with the surprise ruling that the winner will not be declared for at least 11 days after the vote. The decision puts a question mark over US-backed President Gen. Pervez Musharraf's relection bid.
The court said that Pakistan could hold the presidential election Saturday but may only declare the winner after the court reconvenes 11 days later to decide whether Musharraf, the expected victor, was eligible to run. The uncertainty that creates also clouds the prospect of Musharraf and former premier Benazir Bhutto forming a liberal, pro-American alliance.
Presiding Justice Javed Iqbal said that hearings on three petitions filed by Musharraf's opponents claiming the president is ineligible will resume on Oct. 17.
His current term expires Nov. 15.
The government quickly said it would respect the court ruling.
"We have always accepted and respected court rulings, and we also accept today's ruling," Deputy Information Minister Tariq Azim told The Associated Press.
Asked about the prospect of political uncertainty after the vote by lawmakers, who pick the president, Azim said, "The Supreme Court must have thought about it, but one has to go by whatever the court rules."
Opponents have urged the court to postpone the election and consider their argument that Musharraf's retention of his powerful role as army chief makes him ineligible to run under the constitution.
Musharraf has promised to quit his army post and restore civilian rule by Nov. 15 if he wins re-election.
However, Attorney General Malik Mohammed Qayyum said Friday on Geo television that Musharraf might continue as military chief if the court proceedings drag on.
A lawyer for Wajihuddin Ahmed, Musharraf's chief presidential rival and one of the petitioners, acknowledged that the triumph was partial.
"We have achieved 60 per cent victory," Hamid Khan, a lawyer for Ahmed told The Associated Press outside the courtroom. "We are very hopeful that we will be successful in the Supreme Court."