ISLAMABAD, 24 March 2008 — A day before the next prime minister of Pakistan is to be elected, President Pervez Musharraf lauded the start of a “new era of real democracy.”
Addressing the National Day parade yesterday, Musharraf extended his full support to the new government and expressed hope that it would bring political stability and sustain economic development.
“The journey toward democracy and development we started eight years ago is now reaching its destination,” said the former army strongman, who seized power in a 1999 coup. “A new era of real democracy has begun.”
Musharraf quit the military in November but retains sweeping presidential powers to fire Parliament and the prime minister.
The parties who defeated his allies in the recent elections are hoping to strip away some of his powers, as well as reverse his decision to purge the courts.
“I hope the new government can maintain peace and the fast pace of socio-economic development in Pakistan,” Musharraf said.
On Saturday, the party of slain opposition leader Benazir Bhutto named former Parliament Speaker Yousaf Raza Gilani as its candidate for the country’s next prime minister, after routing Musharraf’s allies to win the most seats in last month’s polls.
Asked yesterday whether he would work with Musharraf or try to dislodge him, Gilani said, “I will follow the constitution.” “The crisis our country is passing through is grave,” Gilani told reporters after filing his nomination papers. “All political forces have to work together.”
