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Gen Ashfaq Pervez Kayani has
been the Pakistani army's chief of
staff since 2007
Pakistan's army Chief of Staff,
Gen Ashfaq Pervez Kayani, has
said that the army has no
intention of interfering with
upcoming parliamentary elections.
He said it was his "dream" that
fair elections would take place on
time.
Polls due in May would mark the
first time a civilian government
has completed its term and
transferred power to another
elected assembly.
A nationwide power cut on
Sunday night triggered fresh
rumours of a military takeover in
Pakistan.
"The army does not have any
intention to derail the democratic
process," Gen Kayani was quoted
as saying, according to Pakistan's
Express Tribune.
According to local news sources,
he made the comments in an
informal briefing to reporters in
the city of Rawalpindi on Sunday
but they were not reported until
later.
In a country with a history of
military coups, there are residual
fears of meddling by the army,
reports the BBC's Orla Guerin in
Islamabad.
Last week, the chief military
spokesperson issued a similar
statement insisting that the army
would not benefit from elections
being delayed.
Gen Kayani, who has been chief of
staff of the army since 2007, said
that he has always supported the
democratic process and wanted
elections to be held
simultaneously across the entire
country.
He said that the military will
accept the election results
wholeheartedly.
http://m.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-21600716