The Hindu : International : Zardari's return may spur pro-democracy agitation

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Apr 10, 2005

International

International

Zardari's return may spur pro-democracy agitation

By B. Muralidhar Reddy

ISLAMABAD, APRIL 9. With a week to go for the arrival of Asif Ali Zardari, husband of the former Prime Minister, Benazir Bhutto, from Dubai and desire of the Pakistan People's Party (PPP) to use the occasion as a launching pad for its agitation on restoration of `real democracy,' the political temperature in the country has begun to rise.

Amid speculations of a deal between the Government and the PPP, a few weeks ago Mr. Zardari was allowed to leave the country to join his wife and family who live in Dubai on a self-imposed exile. Prior to his departure Mr. Zardari was released from jail on bail from the court after eight years of detention.

But the negotiations between the Government and the PPP for `reconciliation' do not appear to have made much headway. In recent days Mr. Zardari has become strident in his statements about his plans on return. He hopes to stir the political system and force the Government hold an early general election. The PPP has announced that thousands of party activists and public would gather in Lahore on April 16 to greet Mr. Zardari when he lands there from Dubai.

Reflecting the unease of the Government over the political plans of the PPP, the Information and Broadcasting Minister, Sheikh Rashid Ahmed, told reporters on Friday that Senator Zardari's return to Pakistan on April 16 could undermine the possibility of broad-based reconciliation with the political parties. He particularly referred to the plans of Mr. Zardari to hold public meetings and said that the "broad-based reconciliation with political parties would flounder on the rocks if Senator Zardari returned to Pakistan and held public meetings."

PPP may take to the streets

The Shaukat Aziz Government is concerned about possibility of the PPP taking to the streets and creating an uncomfortable situation. Some elements in the Government are worried about the prospect of the PPP's agitation casting a shadow on the three-day visit of the Pakistan President, Pervez Musharraf, to India beginning on April 16.

The senior PPP leader, Makhdoom Amin Fahim, today said that it was surprising that on the one hand the regime claimed to be working for a broad-based reconciliation with democratic political parties to overcome the political problems facing the country and on the other hand it threatened them.

He said holding of political meetings and reaching out to the masses with their political message was a basic democratic and constitutional right of the parties. The religious parties grouped under the MMA, the MQM and the ruling PML(Q) all were holding rallies, public meetings and million marches to mobilise people with their message. How could the democratic parties be denied this right, he asked.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

International

News Update

Stories in this Section

U.S. nuclear warheads plan under fire

Pakistani indicted for export of nuclear device

Sunni, Shia marchers demand end to occupation

Tension as Jews threaten to storm disputed site

Chinese protesters attack Japanese embassy

Zardari's return may spur pro-democracy agitation

Yudhoyono visits East Timor massacre site

Militiamen destroy Darfur village

Dabbawallas attend wedding

38 students die in accident

In the words of Deng Xiaoping

Cricket not as important as talks on Kashmir, says Musharraf

``Open skies policy will make outsourcing easier''

Budget airlines to the Gulf soon