Search the Internet          Tips

General election in October: Musharraf

K J M Varma in Islamabad

The Pakistan government on Thursday announced that the general election would be held in October this year, but ruled out return to democracy as witnessed in the past.

President Pervez Musharraf said he would hold the elections for national and provincial legislatures in October.

"In the past, fake and untrue democracy has led to the deterioration in the social, political and economic foundations of the country," he said, adding that he would ensure implementation of genuine democracy in the country.

Musharraf, who seized power on October 12, 1999, has said he plans to remain in office for five years after the new parliament takes office.

Foreign Minister Abdul Sattar later told reporters that Pakistan, under Musharraf, would not return to the kind of democracy before the military coup.

"We are on course. At the same time Pakistan should not return to the kind of democracy we had, which witnessed dismissal of four governments and Pakistan got buried under $37 billion foreign debt," he said without referring to the rule of Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif.

Sattar, during his joint press conference with UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, said Musharraf had reiterated his commitment to hold polls by announcing various electoral reforms, which included enhancements of seats in parliament and increase of reserved seats for women.

Tell us what you think of this report