ASIA/PAKISTAN - President Pervez Musharraf of Pakistan will stay on the political scene even after 2007

Wednesday, 18 May 2005

Islamabad (Fides) - President Pervez Musharraf of Pakistan will stand for re-election when his mandate expires in 2007, Information Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed announced. “He will remain after 2007 because Pakistan needs his leadership”, the Minister added.
Musharraf took power in 1999 with a bloodless coup. In June 2001 he proclaimed himself president and in April 2002 through a controversial referendum he was given a five year presidential mandate.
According to Pakistan’s constitution the next general election will be in 2007. This will be followed by a vote in the national parliament and in the four provincial parliaments to elect the head of state. Musharraf had promised to step down as Chief of the armed forces at the end of 2004. However he changed his mind justifying the decision with the urgency of the war on terrorism.
With regard to international terrorism, the arrest in early May in Pakistan of Libyan Abu Faraj al-Libbi, said to be Al-Qaeda third in command failed to give the information on Osama Bin Laden for which observers had hoped.
Since the terrorist attack on the Twin Towers on 11 September 2001 Musharraf’s leadership has been marked by a solid alliance with the United States in the common fight against terrorism.
With regard to Christians in Pakistan Musharraf has taken certain measures which were welcomed by the local Catholic Church. He promoted the abolition of the old system of voting according to religious identity and asked for Catholic schools nationalised in the past to be returned to the Church.
(PA) (Agenzia Fides 18/5/2005 righe 24 parole 241)


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