Foreign Correspondence

[Amaunet]

Nawaz and BB have no role in next polls

This is interesting because I suspect Bhutto might be a U.S. candidate for the following reasons.

The United States is pressing Pakistan on democracy which means goodbye to Musharraf.
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Bush needs a compliant subordinate in Pakistan in the image of Karzai of Afghanistan.

I believe the United States may be looking at reinstalling Benazir Bhutto who is in forced exile in United States ally Dubai.

The United States is well known to be behind manipulated mobs such as the Bhutto demonstrators. Many times Bush’s backstage maneuvering corrupts the causes of just or legitimate demonstrations at times causing an overreaction from the targeted government.
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-Am

Nawaz and BB have no role in next polls

* President Musharraf says Pakistan facing threat from extremism
* Praises councillors’ role in resolving people’s problems

SARGODHA: President Pervez Musharraf said on Wednesday that the next general elections would be held in 2007 in which Nawaz Sharif and Benazir Bhutto, both former prime ministers and heads of two major political parties in Pakistan, would have no political role.

Addressing members of the National and Punjab assemblies from the ruling Pakistan Muslim League and ministers and district nazims from Sargodha division at Circuit House, President Musharraf said there was no external threat but the country was facing an internal threat from extremism. “Extremists are creating chaos to satisfy their false ego,” he said.

The president was briefed about several development projects in Sargodha division. Sources said that Punjab Chief Minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi had been given a free, hand to nominate candidates in the upcoming local council elections this year. The PML’s elections will be held next year.

President Musharraf said that cases were pending against Asif Ali Zardari in Swiss courts and the situation would become clear once courts decided the cases. He praised the role of nazims and councilors in resolving people’s problems at the grassroots level and said that the local government system had potential to bring about a silent revolution.

The president said that although the system was new to the representatives of local governments, hard work and commitment had made it successful. He said that various steps were being taken to improve the system to ensure smooth and harmonious relations among all tiers of the government.

At Sahiwal Nazim Ali Asghar Lehri’s request, the president promised the construction of a bridge on the Chenab river and sought a feasibility report soon. President Musharraf also promised to set up an agriculture university and a medical college in Sargodha. Security was increased on the president’s arrival in Sargodha.

Punjab Chief Minister Chaudhry Pervez Elahi, Punjab Governor Lt Gen (r) Khalid Maqbool and Federal Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Dr Sher Afgan Niazi, Punjab ministers Amir Sultan Cheema, Manzar Ali Ranjha and Gul Hameed Rokhari and other dignitaries were present. online/app

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=story_12-5-2005_pg1_1