Pakistani President Musharraf rejects pressure from Benazir Bhutto

Pervez Musharraf president of Pakistan rejected pressure from former premier Benazir Bhutto to make a snap decision on a power-sharing deal that would see him quit as army chief.

Photo: Pakistani President Musharraf rejects pressure from Benazir Bhutto

Bhutto said she needed to know by the weekend if key US ally Musharraf, who is under fierce pressure to give up his military role, would agree to a pact that would also allow her to return from self-imposed exile.

"While the president believes in dialogue and deliberations on all important issues he never works under any pressure or ultimatum," Musharraf's spokesman, retired Major General Rashid Qureshi, said in a statement.

"The president would take all decisions only in national interest at appropriate times according to the constitution and law," he said in the first official reaction from Musharraf’s camp on talks in London.

The sticking point between Bhutto and Musharraf's representatives has been whether the president will shed his uniform before he stands for re-election by parliament in September or October, political sources said, Khaleej Times reports.

While addressing a Press Conference, Federal Railway Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed on Wednesday said that almost 80 percent matters regarding deal with Benazir Bhutto have been sorted adding that in next two days package will be completed.

The "transition to democracy" deal between President General Pervez Musharraf and former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto is almost through while Government has no contact with Nawaz Sharif, he said.

He said that President General Pervez Musharraf will soon make an announcement regarding his uniform issue.

Replying to a question, he said that no one can compete with Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain and Pervaiz Elahi underlining PML (Q) will sweep general elections.

He further said that Benazir too has termed Nawaz Sharif as security risk adding that some of the politicians have forgotten their past.

He added that if the deal does not work with PPP, Government has others options too to consider, PakTribune reports.

Source: Agencies