Musharraf announces road map for return to democracy

By B. Muralidhar Reddy

ISLAMABAD, AUG. 14. The Pakistan President, Gen. Pervez Musharraf, today announced the ``road map' for restoration of democracy before the October 12, 2002 deadline set by the Supreme Court.

However, the announcement made by Gen. Musharraf, at a special conference here of the newly-elected representatives of the new system of local governance, came with several strings attached. The elections to the Provincial and National Assemblies and the Senate would be preceded by amendments in the Constitution.

Though no details of the nature of the amendments proposed to the Constitution were made public, it is presumed that the reference of Gen. Musharraf was to his oft-repeated theme on the need for checks and balances to ensure that the Prime Minister did not misuse his ``unbridled powers''.

He has also talked about the need for a system wherein there was a balance in the powers of the President and the Prime Minister. There was no hint in his address today about his own future as President or how he would continue in office after the general elections.

Gen. Musharraf talked about the restoration of democracy in four phases. The first phase had been completed with the election of district `nazims'. The second phase would begin from September 1 to 30 next year. Preparations for the Provincial, National and Senate elections would be conducted during this period. These include revamp of the Election Commission, delimitation of constituencies, preparation of electoral rolls and identity cards and, most importantly, constitutional amendments to be effected after a public debate was held and a consensus evolved.

Phase three would be held from July 1 to October 12 during which the ``election process'' would be conducted. The actual dates for the elections would be between October 1 to 12. October-November would constitute the last phase, during which the actual transfer of power would be carried out.

The announcement that he intended to carry out constitutional amendments has raised suspicion among representatives of political parties. The Pakistan People's Party (PPP), led by the former Prime Minister, Ms. Benazir Bhutto, complained that the plan appeared a ``typical replay of the harangues of the military dictators of the past''.

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Section  : International
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