Pakistan spurns Rice poll advice

Pakistan does not need "outside" advice on holding democratic and free elections, its foreign ministry says.

The statement followed US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice's recent talks with President Musharraf in Pakistan.

"There has to be, the world expects there to be democratic, free and fair elections in Pakistan in 2007," Ms Rice told reporters en route to Islamabad.

She said she would raise the issue with General Musharraf, who seized power in a bloodless coup in 1999.

'Commitment'

The foreign ministry statement said Ms Rice and Gen Musharraf did not discuss elections during their talks.

There should be no doubt in anyone's mind that the elections will be free and fair
Pakistan foreign ministry

"On the democratic processes in Pakistan, we do not require advice from outside... these matters essentially concern the people of Pakistan," the statement said.

"There should be no doubt in anyone's mind that the elections will be free and fair. This is the commitment of the leadership and government of Pakistan."

Elections for Pakistan's parliament take place next year. Gen Musharraf's five-year term also expires in 2007.

The national parliament and four provincial assemblies constitute the electoral college for the Pakistani president.

Opposition parties want the presidential election held after new assemblies are elected in late 2007.

Gen Musharraf's supporters argue that since the constitution allows for the next presidential election to be held in September 2007, he does not need to wait for new assemblies to take office.

'Democratic charter'

The opposition says that because the deadline for the presidential and general elections is almost the same, the president is morally bound to wait for the new assemblies before seeking a fresh five-year term.

Analysts say President Musharraf would not like to put his fate in the hands of a new parliament where he may be unsure of securing a majority.

He enjoys a clear majority at present in the National Assembly.

Two major opposition parties - Benazir Bhutto's Pakistan People's Party and Nawaz Sharif's Muslim League - have vowed to work together towards curtailing the army's dominant role in Pakistan politics.

They signed a "democratic charter" in London last month in which they agreed to try to dismantle the military's over-arching role in the government.

Opposition parties have also called for 2007 general elections to be held under an interim government.

Qazi Hussain Ahmed, the leader of Pakistan's main religious alliance, has said he would not contest elections if held under Gen Musharraf.

Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/world/south_asia/5127898.stm

Published: 2006/06/29 08:44:09 GMT

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