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Bhutto threatens Musharraf with "long march"
07 Nov 2007 12:13:05 GMT
Source: Reuters
ISLAMABAD, Nov 7 (Reuters) - Former Pakistani prime minister Benazir Bhutto said on Wednesday Pakistani opposition supporters will begin a long march from Lahore on Nov. 13 unless President Pervez Musharraf quits the army.

Bhutto threw down the gauntlet to army chief Musharraf after consulting other opposition leaders over strategy to make him abandon emergency rule, which he invoked last Saturday.

"If demands are not met by November 9, we'll start a long march from Lahore on November 13 and then we will stage a sit-in in Islamabad," Bhutto, leader of the Pakistan People's Party (PPP), the largest opposition party, told reporters.

"President Musharraf should honour his commitment before the Supreme Court and the promise he made to the Pakistan People's Party during talks that he'll take off his uniform by November 15," Bhutto said.

"Before November 15, the Pakistan election commission should announce an election schedule and judges, lawyers and political activists should be released," she added.

Hundreds of thousands of supporters welcomed Bhutto when she returned to Karachi on Oct. 18, ending more than eight years of self-imposed exile. But the cheerful homecoming was short-lived. A suicide bomb attack next to her motorcade killed at least 139 people.

Musharraf had granted Bhutto protection from prosecution for old corruption charges she has always maintained were politically motivated.

There was speculation that the two might end up sharing power after elections, that were expected by January, until the president sprang emergency rule on the country.

Other opposition parties said Bhutto should never have negotiated with a military leader, but she said her intention was to ensure the country was guided back towards democracy, with free and fair elections.

Announcing the emergency and suspension of the constitution at the weekend, Musharraf had pleaded that he was being hampered by the judiciary while trying to guide Pakistan towards civilian-led democracy and fighting rising militancy.

"We can't work for dictatorship. We can work for democracy. General Musharraf can open the door for negotiations only if he revives the constitution, retires as chief of army staff and sticks to the schedule of holding elections," she said. (Editing by David Fogarty) (zeeshan.haider@reuters.com; +92-51-281 0017; Reuters Messaging: zeeshan.haider.reuters.com@reuters.net)
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A boy looks at burning tyres set on fire by supporters of opposition leader Benazir Bhutto during protests against emergency rule in Peshawar November 15, 2007. Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf was expected to announce a caretaker government on Thursday to oversee elections he has promised for January but the opposition says they will be a sham under emergency rule. REUTERS/Ali Imam (PAKISTAN)



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