Musharraf sworn in as Pakistan president

NF Reporter · 11-29-2007, 09:19 AM

AP - Pervez Musharraf embarked on a new five-year term as Pakistan's civilian president Thursday, but he gave no indication of when emergency rule will be lifted — a key demand of both his domestic rivals and the United States.

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waltky · 01-03-2008, 09:09 AM

Now they want him out...

Calls for Musharraf to Step Down
Thursday, Jan. 03, 2008 — Pakistan's U.S.-allied president must resign before next month's elections or the country could risk slipping into civil war, opposition leaders and a leading independent research institute said Thursday.

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The calls came after the government pushed back polls to Feb. 18 from the planned Jan. 8 date due to unrest following the assassination of opposition leader Benazir Bhutto. Bhutto's death in a suicide bomb and gun attack plunged already volatile Pakistan deeper into crisis and stoked fears of political meltdown as the nation struggled to contain an explosion of Islamic militant violence.

The government — which had initially ruled out the need for foreign involvement in the assassination probe — has been criticized over its security arrangements for Bhutto, who had claimed elements in the ruling party were trying to kill her. The party vehemently denies such a plot. Bhutto supporters have insisted that a U.N. probe would be the only way to reveal the truth behind her Dec. 27 slaying. They dismissed President Pervez Musharraf's announcement late Wednesday that Britain's Scotland Yard will soon join the investigation.

"The mist of confusion will be cleared only if the regime accepts the party's demand for holding a U.N. inquiry into the assassination as was done in the case of Lebanese Premier Rafik Hariri's murder," said Farhatullah Babar, a spokesman for Bhutto's Pakistan Peoples Party. "The regime has lost all credibility. Neither a domestic inquiry nor vague foreign involvement ... would lay to rest the lingering doubts and suspicions," Babar said.

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Musharraf in heated denials over Bhutto
Thursday 3rd January, 2008 - Pakistan’s President Pervez Musharraf has angrily denied allegations that his government orchestrated the assassination of opposition leader Benazir Bhutto.

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In a 90-minute session with foreign journalists, he said Ms Bhutto was repeatedly warned about threats from Islamic militants. President Musharraf, in an emotional conference, said there was no cover-up of Bhutto's slaying and the Western press was unfairly labelling Pakistan as violent and unstable. He assured the press members that Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal was completely safe.

In response to a question about whether his government had blood on its hands in Bhutto's gun-suicide attack, he said: 'I'm not a feudal, I am not a tribal; I have been brought up in a very educated and civilized family, which believes in values, which believes in principles, which believes in character'.

'My family is not a family that believes in killing people, in assassinating, intriguing', he said, adding Islamic militants linked to the Taliban and Al Qaeda had attempted to kill him on several occasions. He said: 'I am not a fraud. I am not a liar. Please understand Pakistan. It is a different country than your own'.

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waltky · 02-03-2008, 03:25 AM

Maybe he's gettin' tired of the job...

Aide: Musharraf might step down
Feb. 2 `08 -- An aide to Pervez Musharraf said the Pakistani president might step down if opposition parties win the Feb. 18 election.

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The unnamed aide told The International News Musharraf became "a simple president" when he gave up his position as head of the army in November. "Obviously, he is not as strong as he was before," the source said.

The aide said Musharraf would not step down until after the elections. The president is under increasing pressure from opposition parties -- and even some of his usual allies -- as well as from lawyers and religious leaders.

The election, postponed after the assassination of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, is for the national assembly and four provincial assemblies. The aide said Musharraf does not plan to restore judges he removed, in a maneuver that set off a revolt by lawyers. Musharraf argues that a two-thirds vote of parliament would be required for reinstatement.

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waltky · 03-13-2008, 01:02 AM

Senate backs Musharraf...

US lawmakers warn against impeaching Musharraf
Mar 12,`08 : US lawmakers have warned Pakistan of the consequences of impeaching President Pervez Musharraf.

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In the opinion piece given to the Wall Street Journal, US Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison said the country would prove to be a stronger ally in the war on terror if there would be a legitimate democratic Government is in place.

She described Pakistan as being weakened by a fragile constitutional order and "the impotence of its governing institutions". Hutchison also noted that all of Pakistan's leaders are imperfect to run the country, but they had "redeeming qualities".

She also expressed concern on the new coalition's plan to cut down military operations against terrorists. She said the US will continue to support Pakistan's leaders as long as they support democracy.

US lawmakers warns against impeaching Musharraf