Musharraf to quit army 'in days'

[PakForce Unlimited]

Musharraf to quit army 'in days'​

President Pervez Musharraf will stand down as head of the Pakistani army on Wednesday, his spokesman Rashid Qureshi has told the BBC.
The spokesman told the BBC President Musharraf would then be sworn in for another term in office on Thursday.
President Musharraf has been under intense international and domestic pressure to give up his military role.
He seized power in a coup in 1999, deposing the civilian government of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.
Gen Musharraf's main international backer, the United States, has grown concerned in recent months at the army's inability to rein in pro-Taleban militants and by Gen Musharraf's growing unpopularity.
It had been backing talks between President Musharraf and former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, who heads the country's largest political party, for a power-sharing deal.
But in recent days Ms Bhutto has said that she could not work with Gen Musharraf.

Supreme commander
Pervez Musharraf "will take over as the president of Pakistan as a civilian" on Thursday, spokesman Gen Qureshi told BBC World TV.
He said President Musharraf would hand over his post of army chief to his deputy - Lt Gen Ashfaq Pervez Kiani - in a ceremony on Wednesday.
Asked if President Musharraf was severing all his professional links with the military, Gen Qureshi pointed out that he would remain supreme commander of the armed forces, as was the case with heads of state in other countries.
Gen Musharraf designated Gen Kiani, a former head of the intelligence services, as his successor as army head in October.
As a civilian president, Mr Musharraf would still have considerable powers, including the power to sack a civilian government.

Boycott option
The man he toppled in the coup, Nawaz Sharif, returned to Pakistan after years of exile on Sunday.
Mr Sharif and Benazir Bhutto have each served two terms as prime minister. Under current law that would bar them from being prime minister for a third term.
Both leaders have now filed nomination papers to contest parliamentary elections due in January.
But both are holding onto the option of boycotting the options if they deem that they will not be free and fair.
Gen Musharraf imposed emergency rule on 3 November in order, he said, to rein in the judiciary and deal with a growing threat from Islamist militants.
Thousands of political opponents were arrested, TV and radio news was banned and judges seen to be a threat to the government were sacked

Link: BBC NEWS | South Asia | Musharraf to quit army 'in days'

 

[PakistaniPatriot]

Now can Nawaz Shariff and BB take another term. It says they have filed papers for it. I hope they don't and Imran Khan gets elected.

 

[BATMAN]

Welcome, we are close to start another decade of loosing out in every thing, untill the day we cherish next military savior!

But some body explain me how does it help the political gurus if Musharraf retires before November. Why are they so vigorously fighting to have him retire before the announced dates?
Does it matter so much, if BB and Nawaz Sharif start sharing Pakistan a month later?
After all, the road map to hand over the reins to was announced long ago.

Any way, we are not far away from the same old days of mud slinging and I think it is not hard to guess who will be the leading the act ???

 

[PakistaniPatriot]

You know there is no point of testing the ones that have already been tested. They have done no good to this country, be it research in educational sector, helping women against rapists, for the betterment of economy, and last but not least non has ever done anything to help the army in buying armaments and etc.

I think the only way to prevent the army coup is to bring someone new in the government. In my opinion Imran Khan would be able to do something. Atleast he is well educated.

 

[niaz]

It was Saadi, the thirteenth century genius who said " Azmuda ra azmudan khata ast" meaning to experiment with those you are already experienced is a mistake. However, in a democracy it is the will of the people which counts and if people of Pakistan want to again give the chance to the same thieves and looters, so be it. There is no other way democracy can come to Pakistan except thru a "caesrean birth'.

 

[PakForce Unlimited]

Musharraf bids farewell to troops​

President Pervez Musharraf has visited the army headquarters to bid farewell to troops a day before he is due to stand down as head of Pakistan's army.

He will be sworn in as a civilian president on Thursday, his spokesman Rashid Qureshi says.
Gen Musharraf has been under intense international and domestic pressure to give up his military role.
He seized power in a coup in 1999, deposing the civilian government of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.

Colourful ceremony
A guard of honour, composed of the army, navy and air force personnel greeted President Musharraf as he arrived at the armed forces headquarters in Rawalpindi, near the capital, Islamabad.
A military band played martial tunes and the national anthem before troops marched past Gen Musharraf, who wore ceremonial dress decorated with medals and a green sash.
After the ceremony, President Musharraf met senior commanders of the three services.
"General Musharraf will make a series of farewell visits to various military headquarters on Tuesday and Wednesday," presidential spokesman Rashid Qureshi was quoted by news agency AFP as saying.
On Wednesday he will be driven to the army's general headquarters to hand over his position as head of the army to his successor, Gen Ashfaq Pervez Kiani.

Growing concern
Gen Musharraf designated Gen Kiani, a former head of the intelligence services, as his successor as army head in October.
The most serious pressure on President Musharraf to give up his uniform has come from the United States, his main international backer.
Washington has grown concerned in recent months at the army's inability to rein in pro-Taleban militants and by Gen Musharraf's growing unpopularity.
It had been backing talks between President Musharraf and former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, who heads the country's largest political party, for a power-sharing deal.

As a civilian leader, President Musharraf would still have considerable powers, including the power to sack a civilian government.
He imposed emergency rule on 3 November in order, he said, to rein in the judiciary and deal with a growing threat from Islamist militants.
Thousands of political opponents were arrested, TV and radio news was banned and judges seen to be a threat to the government were sacked.
General elections are to be held on 9 January, but President Musharraf has yet to say when the emergency will be lifted.

Link: BBC NEWS | South Asia | Musharraf bids farewell to troops

 

[Interceptor]

Now can Nawaz Shariff and BB take another term. It says they have filed papers for it. I hope they don't and Imran Khan gets elected.

Imran Khan has disposed his nomination papers. He has declined entering in elections.