Ruling party seeking to cut Musharraf's power

Pakistan's ruling party has said it is determined to curtail the powers of the presidency in favor of parliament, whether President Pervez Musharraf likes it or not.

Musharraf, facing a chorus of calls to resign, told journalists on Saturday, in his first meeting with the media for weeks, that he had no plan to quit.

At the same time, Musharraf sounded a generally conciliatory tone saying parliament, dominated by opponents since his allies were defeated in a February election, was supreme.

Musharraf's fate has consumed the attention of the new coalition since the polls, despite an economy that is deteriorating rapidly and a potent threat from Al-Qaida and the Taliban.

Pakistan's stock market and currency have both come under pressure because of a combination of factors, including the uncertainty over Musharraf and worry about more turmoil in the nuclear-armed country.

In the meeting with journalists on Saturday, Musharraf said he would accept proposed constitutional amendments the ruling Pakistan People's Party (PPP) of assassinated former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto aimed to push through parliament.

But in what media interpreted as a warning he would not tolerate a cut in his powers, a confident-sounding Musharraf indicated he would not like to be reduced to a ceremonial head of state, saying he could not become a "useless vegetable".

The People's Party brushed aside any objections, saying parliament was sovereign and could make or amend laws and the constitution regardless of whether Musharraf liked it or not.

"Such hollow warnings would not deter the democratic forces from restoring the powers of the parliament," PPP spokesman Farhatullah Babar said in a statement.

Bhutto's widower Asif Ali Zardari, who leads her party, on Thursday reiterated that Musharraf's re-election for a second term in October while remaining army chief was unconstitutional and his government was keeping relationship with him because of his de facto position.

"PPP does not accept General Musharraf as constitutional president," he told Pakistani reporters in Saudi Arabia in comments broadcast by a television channel.

"Nonetheless, the PPP government does have a working relationship with him (Musharraf) because he occupies a position by default and by circumstances."

Nawaz Sharif, the prime minister Musharraf overthrew as army chief in a 1999 coup and who leads the second largest party in parliament, wants Musharraf impeached or tried for treason.

Sharif's brother, Shahbaz, was yesterday elected chief minister of Punjab, the country's richest and politically most important province.

Another looming challenge to Musharraf is a lawyers' movement that sprang up last year to fight his attempts to dictate to the judiciary. It is seeking to hasten his departure with a countrywide protest campaign this week.

Agencies

(China Daily 06/09/2008 page6)