ISLAMABAD, 20 September 2007 — Pakistan’s government warned yesterday of “extreme decisions” if the opposition resigns from Parliament over President Pervez Musharraf’s bid to be re-elected in uniform.

Opposition parties, including ex-premier Benazir Bhutto’s, reacted angrily after Musharraf said on Tuesday that he would resign as army chief by mid-November — but only if the current Parliament gives him a second term.

“If the opposition adopts an extremist policy, it could lead to extreme decisions which could be unfortunate for the country,” Railways Minister Sheikh Rashid, a close confidant of Musharraf, told private Geo television.

The minister did not elaborate, but Musharraf has never ruled out the possibility of imposing a state of emergency or even martial law in Pakistan amid a six-month political crisis.

Musharraf nearly declared an emergency in August but held off under pressure from the United States, which backs his rule as a key ally in the fight against Al-Qaeda and other extremists.

In an interview to Reuters, Benazir said she was surprised President Musharraf would seek re-election while still being army chief and said her party might quit Parliament if he did not take steps to restore democracy.

She has insisted he quit the army post before a presidential election due on Oct. 15. “But he has not quite done this ... I was quite surprised to hear that he is going to retire as army chief in November,” Benazir told Reuters. “The Pakistan People’s Party wants to support Gen. Musharraf if he takes the country toward democracy but we do not want to bail out a military dictatorship,” she said.

“We are not going to compromise on our democratic principles. We want democracy in its true spirit. If it is done through negotiations, good. If we can’t get in through negotiations than we will exert pressure through the public.” Benazir faces a slew of corruption charges and possibly arrest if she returns to Pakistan.

She said her support for Musharraf would hinge on him accepting proposals she had made, including immunity from prosecution for civilians who ruled between 1988 and 1999 and the lifting of a ban on a prime minister serving a third term.

“If he doesn’t do it then the Pakistan People’s Party ... will consider resigning from Parliament,” she said.

“I think Gen. Musharraf should hear the voice of the people and move toward true democracy.”

An alliance of other opposition parties including one loyal to former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif also said it would quit Parliament.

“If we resign, the electorate college will not be complete and the presidential election then cannot be called a legitimate exercise,” senior Sharif party member Raja Zafarul Haq said.

The government however insists it has enough seats to get Musharraf re-elected.