Musharraf-Bhutto Regime Emerging: Musharraf-Bhutto Regime Emerging
By Kim Barker, Chicago Tribune
Oct. 3–ISLAMABAD, Pakistan — The Pakistani government will likely drop all corruption charges against exiled former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, an indication that a power-sharing deal has been reached that would help embattled President Pervez Musharraf hold onto power.
All criminal charges pending for 10 years or more soon will be dropped against Bhutto, her husband and other former political and government leaders, said Tariq Azim, the country’s deputy information minister. A Cabinet meeting was held to finalize the agreement late Tuesday.
Lawyers and analysts criticized the move, which overshadowed the opposition’s attempt to deny legitimacy to Musharraf on Tuesday when dozens of lawmakers resigned from parliament.
Remaining parliament members likely will elect Musharraf to another 5-year presidential term on Saturday.
“We want to start a new era, a new chapter, where people don’t have to face the courts every day of their lives just because of political vindictiveness,” Azim said.
In recent weeks Musharraf has managed to face down mounting opposition and apparently carve out a way to stay in office. The increasingly unpopular president, who seized power in a bloodless military coup in 1999 and championed an anti-corruption movement, has said he would step down as army chief, but only if re-elected president.
On Tuesday, Musharraf made another key move, naming his likely successor as army chief. Gen. Ashfaq Kayani, a former head of the Inter-Services Intelligence spy agency, will become vice chief of the army Monday and will take the top job when Musharraf leaves it, a military statement said.
A power-sharing deal appears increasingly likely between Musharraf and Bhutto, a two-time premier who fled Pakistan after corruption charges were leveled at her. Bhutto has been negotiating with Musharraf for months. One of her key demands has been that corruption charges against her and other politicians be dropped.
Bhutto has been accused of illegally buying land in Pakistan and accumulating money in overseas accounts while in power. In 2003, she was convicted of money laundering in Switzerland and told to pay $11 million to the Pakistani government. That conviction was overturned but the allegations still are under investigation.
Lawyers who have been spearheading an anti-Musharraf movement, saying his continued rule is unconstitutional, criticized any decision to grant amnesty to Bhutto and others, which would include another exiled prime minister, his brother and the leader of a political party accused of murder and corruption.
Bhutto, whom the U.S. has pushed Musharraf to work with, is planning to return Oct. 18. Parliamentary elections probably will be held in December or January.
If Bhutto’s political party, the Pakistan People’s Party, wins and a constitutional amendment eliminates a two-term limit, she could then be named prime minister a third time, ruling alongside Musharraf.
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kbarker@tribune.com
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