ISLAMABAD, 1 December 2007 — Pakistan’s opposition parties appeared divided yesterday on whether to contest parliamentary elections under President Pervez Musharraf, a day after Musharraf announced he would end emergency rule ahead of the ballot.
Former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto said her opposition party planned to participate in the Jan. 8 elections “under protest.”
“We’re worried about the elections, we have our reservations, but we’re going in under protest,” Benazir said in an interview with Associated Press Television News. “We hope as we participate we can try and improve the situation,” she said after meeting a US congressional delegation.
She later launched her party’s election manifesto, promising loans for small businesses and more money for education.
But she also suggested her Pakistan People’s Party could still join a boycott by a united opposition. “We were thinking to contest the elections, but we are ready to change our mind to find a common goal, a common agenda,” she said.
Nawaz Sharif — another former prime minister who now heads a 33-member opposition grouping — said he would meet with Benazir to explain the reasons for the proposed boycott.
He said in a phone interview that Musharraf must reinstate the Supreme Court judges who were fired after the emergency was proclaimed on Nov. 3 to ensure the elections would not be rigged.
“We are saying, ‘please, please for heaven’s sake restore the judiciary to the Nov. 2 judiciary. Don’t force us to boycott the elections,”’ Sharif said.
“If there (are) free and fair elections we can win,” he said. “But there is no point in Musharraf taking off his uniform or lifting emergency rule unless the judiciary is reinstated with dignity and honor. Nothing else is going to help the country.”
Musharraf had ruled Pakistan as a military ruler since 1999 when he overthrew Sharif in a coup. But he stepped down as military commander on Wednesday and has pledged to reinstate democracy.
An electoral boycott would represent a serious blow to Musharraf’s stated intention to restore democracy.
A US senator who met with Benazir at her house in Islamabad said his congressional delegation was “encouraged” that Benazir would not boycott the vote.
“We know how important it is that her party participate, we hope all parties participate, otherwise it will be very difficult to put together ... a government that really serves the people,” said Sen. Bob Corker, a Tennessee Republican.
Musharraf has urged opposition parties to participate in the elections and help strengthen democracy. He said elections would be held as scheduled in January.
Washington and London welcomed that announcement. “We hope that he follows through on that,” White House press secretary Dana Perino said. British Foreign Secretary David Miliband said London also looked forward to the lifting of the emergency and other restrictions. One major television channel remains blocked.
