Wednesday, May 08, 2002
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By B. Muralidhar Reddy
In his first interview to a German daily, Die Welt, after the controversial referendum, Gen. Musharraf conceded that there were people who did not agree with the steps his regime had taken against extremism. ``There are people who don't agree with what I am doing. I tread on many people's toes, especially when I take action against extremists,'' he said adding that he was not going to be deterred in his goal by any odds. Asked if he had created enemies by doing this, he said "I have never hidden, I lead quite a normal life, I go jogging, do sports. I have already looked death into the eye several times, and I have come out of it alive. I don't worry.'' Gen. Musharraf said religious extremists in Pakistan were in a minority. None of the religious parties had ever got more than 5 per cent of the popular vote. "Pakistan is an Islamic Republic, the majority is religious but not fanatical. Most have had enough of the extremists' acts of violence,'' he claimed. On the release of most of the leaders of the banned religious and sectarian outfits, Gen. Musharraf said only those against whom there was no evidence had been released. On Daniel Pearl murder case, he claimed that all the persons involved were behind bars. On proposed constitutional amendments and ``checks and balances'' being contemplated by his Government, Gen. Musharraf admitted that a constitutional role for the Army in the future set-up was being considered. The Army had always played an important role in Pakistan. The Chief of the Army had been called in to help when there were problems between the President and the Prime Minister in the past. "So why should we be so shy and not institutionalise this reconciling role... We are considering a constitutional role for the Army, and we are not ashamed of it. We are very realistic." Explaining the rationale behind the referendum he said, "I thought the people were sovereign. I think that if somebody goes to the people and asks them for their opinion, that is the highest form of democracy.'' The referendum was not about a bid for power at all. He accused the former Pakistan Prime Ministers, Nawaz Sharif and Benazir Bhutto, of trying to create a ``negative atmosphere'' from abroad and charged them with investing a lot of money in a ``targeted slandering campaign.'' Asked to compare his referendum with that of the former President, Zia-ul-Haq, Gen. Musharraf said, "there are many differences: first of all, at that time there were no political problems, thus no necessity for a referendum. Today, on the other hand, massive reforms are on the way, which have absolute precedence over everything else and which must not be interrupted.'' Would the international community be convinced? The international community would see free and fair elections in October, Gen. Musharraf maintained. "In order to make this possible, the referendum was necessary, not for my personal megalomania.'' On the possible return of Ms. Bhutto to Pakistan, he said she didn't leave because of him. She "ran away" because she was facing prosecution for corruption. "If she comes, she will be taken to court, and justice will take its course. We want educated people in power. And her level of education is unclear to date.''
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