The Hindu : Musharraf hints at reforms before polls

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Mar 31, 2002

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International

Musharraf hints at reforms before polls

By B. Muralidhar Reddy

ISLAMABAD March 30. The Pakistan President, Pervez Musharraf, has hinted at major political reforms before the general elections scheduled for October this year to ensure what he has termed as "the continuity and sustainability of genuine democracy'' in the country.

Though his observations, made in the course of his consultation with a cross section of political leaders, appear vague, they give scope to several interpretations.

In the last few days, mainstream political parties such as the Pakistan People's Party (PPP) and the Pakistan Muslim League have expressed apprehensions over the political reforms proposed by the Musharraf regime and even questioned his legitimacy to undertake such an exercise. In generally what is perceived as an exercise to gauge the mood of the political parties on a possible referendum to get himself elected as President for a term of five years, Gen. Musharraf has been interacting with a number of political players in the last few days. Of course, so far they have been from smaller parties.

Today he met delegations of the Qaumi Jamhoori Party (QJP) and the Balochistan National Party. He told them that there was a need to ensure that the process of democracy was not derailed and was allowed to prosper in the best interest of Pakistan. It implies that he desires to create a system where military interventions are avoided.

Gen. Musharraf told them that during the past 14 years, personal and party interests had taken precedence over national interest, which had led to provincial disharmony, economic instability and social inequalities. He stressed the need for continuity of the Government's reforms agenda and discussed various options on the subject.

Later, talking to newsmen, a QJP delegate appreciated the process of consultations with political leaders on matters of national importance and supported the need for continuity of the reforms. He favoured a process by which greater provincial autonomy and harmony could be realised and called for reviewing the existing system which "discouraged the emergence of leadership from the middle and working classes".

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