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April 05, 2008 19:09 IST
Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf [Images] has no plans to quit despite the formation of hostile government and will play a low-key role as part of a strategy framed a long time ago, a presidential aide has said.
The 'perceived isolation' of Musharraf and his sidelining after the swearing-in of the new government had not happened in a 'haphazard way but is the result of a well thought out strategy', the aide claimed.
'It was decided a long time ago that Musharraf would take a backseat after the 2008 general election and he has done so as per the plan,' the unnamed aide told The News daily.
'Everything was executed as per the script,' the aide claimed, adding that Musharraf's moves were part of the plan for the 'phased restoration of democracy'.
'There is no shock for the president in the new milieu except for the defeat of the (PML-Q),' he said.
The Pakistan People's Party and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz have formed a coalition government with the backing of two smaller parties and independent lawmakers following the defeat of pro-Musharraf PML-Q in the February 18 polls.
He categorically said Musharraf had no plans to step down.
Everything went as per the strategy, though considerable disruption was caused by the 'judicial crisis' following the sacking of 60 members of the superior judiciary during last year's emergency, the aide said. The Musharraf confidant said PPP Chairman Asif Ali Zardari was working more 'prudently and astutely' when compared to PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif and is 'trying to bury the hatchet with all and sundry'.
Hawkish elements in the PML-N like federal ministers Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan and Khwaja Asif are urging Sharif to maintain a hardline stance against Musharraf, he said.
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