By Mike Collett-White
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (Reuters) - Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf
prepared to hand over formal powers to a civilian government after
Thursday's general election amid fresh allegations that he has manipulated
the poll in his favor.
In an address to the nation broadcast on state television and radio on
the eve of the vote, the general said Pakistan stood on the threshold of a
"new democratic era" and urged the country of 140 million to "vote
diligently."
But his promise of a free and fair election and a smooth transition of
power was immediately attacked by the popular former Prime Minister
Benazir Bhutto, who has been barred by arch-rival Musharraf from
contesting the election.
His decision to block Bhutto's return to the country, and a series of
constitutional amendments enhancing his powers ahead of the poll, have
convinced many Pakistanis that Musharraf intends to continue to run the
country under the guise of civilian rule.
An indication came in his national address of the fine line political
analysts say Musharraf is trying to tread.
"Another assurance that I want to give you is that I will transfer full
executive powers to the prime minister and then I will give up the post of
the chief executive," he said.
But he added: "I also want to say that one power I shall always keep,
about which there will be no compromise ... is the solidarity and survival
of Pakistan and the running of government free from corruption and
dishonesty."
Musharraf enjoys broad support among his people for being seen to fight
corruption and imposing political stability after a decade of infighting
and squabbling between the main parties which ended in his taking power in
a bloodless coup in 1999.
But he is under fire from political opponents and independent observers
for subverting the restoration of democracy.
The U.S.-based Human Rights Watch issued a stinging attack on his
pre-election record Wednesday, saying:
"In the three years since the coup, Pakistan has witnessed a
consolidation of military power rather than a transition to democracy.
Pakistan's international partners cannot ignore this fact any longer."
KEY ALLY
The United States has been slow to mention the controversial build-up
to the election, recognizing Musharraf as a key ally in the military
campaign against the Taliban and al Qaeda network in neighboring
Afghanistan.
Musharraf handed himself the right to dissolve parliament,
institutionalized the military's role in politics and imposed laws that
prevented Bhutto from returning and the family of another exiled
ex-premier, Nawaz Sharif, from running for office.
The changes came hard on the heels of a widely criticized referendum
that extended his presidential term for five years.
The military, which has ruled Pakistan for more than half of its 55
year history, is also accused of supporting the powerful Pakistan Muslim
League Quaid-e-Azam, dubbed the "King's Party."
That could take precious votes away from Bhutto's Pakistan People's
Party (PPP) and Sharif's Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz), two other big
players in Pakistani politics.
Six religious parties joined to form a hard-line Islamic coalition in
the hope of winning more than the handful of seats they managed in the
past, but despite the popularity of their anti-U.S. policies they are not
expected to be a major force.
Britain has urged its nationals in Pakistan to be extra vigilant during
the election amid fears of an escalation of anti-Western violence by
extremist Islamic groups.
The groups, some of them banned by Musharraf, are angry at the
government's decision to back the United States against the Taliban in
neighboring Afghanistan and have been blamed for a wave of violence
against Western and Christian targets.
Several are linked to the disputed Kashmir region over which nuclear
rivals India and Pakistan fought two of their three wars. Pakistan has
rounded up nine men recently it says were trained by Indian intelligence
to disrupt the poll with bomb attacks.
