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“Musharraf’s uniform no longer an issue”

ISLAMABAD: Politicians close to President Musharraf and Pakistan Peoples’ Party leader Benazir Bhutto are saying that the Pakistan leader’s uniform is no longer an issue, and the two sides are now discussing other contentious issues such as lifting the two-term bar for a Prime Minister and removing the President’s power to dissolve Parliament.

There is speculation that an announcement is in the offing by the Pakistan leader about his re-election plans, especially with regard to the uniform issue.

Ms. Bhutto was reported by Pakistani media as saying in London that the deal was “80-90 per cent” tied up and that the uniform was no longer an issue. She told Associated Press that Gen. Musharraf was willing to step down as Army Chief before the presidential elections.

According to reports from London, the discussions between his emissaries and Ms. Bhutto are now focused on her demand for removing the President’s power to dissolve Parliament and dismiss the government. The other sticking point that remains are the removal of the constitutional bar on two-time Prime Ministers holding the office a third time.

Dawn TV also reported that President Musharraf and Ms. Bhutto have also locked horns over the timing of her return home. The PPP leader wants to return as early as possible, but President Musharraf does not want her to lead the electio n campaign as the party may then do too well for his comfort at the election.

In Islamabad, Sheikh Rashid Ahmed declared that “80 per cent” of issues between Gen. Musharraf and the PPP had been finalised, and that the two sides were still talking about the two-term bar on a Prime Minister.

But as the two sides draw closer, they have to deal with the third side, Nawaz Sharif, whose party said after a meeting in London on Wednesday that it was not in any negotiations with the regime, the date for its leader’s return would be announced on Thursday, and that it would be before September 15.

For his part, President Musharraf seems to have made up his mind not to allow Mr. Sharif to come back. At a public meeting in Punjab province on Wednesday, he declared that Mr. Sharif could not return in violation of his own pledge not to come back from exile for 10 years.

But an influential section within the Pakistan Muslim League (Q), which fears for the party’s future in the event of a “deal” between Gen. Musharraf and Ms. Bhutto, wants Mr. Sharif to return. With his popularity touching new heights, Mr. Sharif could neutralise the PPP at the elections, and reduce its importance for Gen. Musharraf.

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