Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf on Tuesday administered oath of office to newly elected Prime Minister Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani, promising “fullest cooperation” to him. In a lacklustre ceremony boycotted by all political parties except the MQM, Musharraf talked to state-run PTV in a sombre mood with Gilani by his side. He said unity was necessary to fight terrorism.

“I will always extend my fullest cooperation to him. I congratulate him,” Musharraf said, adding that “I believe all forces should be united... because the period which is coming is a difficult period in the context of terrorism, of militancy, of the economy.”

Gilani made some perfunctory remarks, saying that Pakistan’s 160 million people had voted for change in last month’s elections, in which Bhutto’s party won the most seats and trounced Musharraf’s allies.

“It’s a reflection of the way people voted, of what kind of manifesto and government they wanted to bring to power,” Gilani said as Musharraf fell silent beside him. However, he stated that he would “like to strengthen Parliament and the presidency is part of it.”

About 500 guests were invited but, in an apparent rebuff to Musharraf, none of the leaders of four coalition partners attended the ceremony. PPP co-chairman Asif Zardari, however, sent four second-string leaders in deference to the Prime Minister, who belongs to the PPP. PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif later reiterated his view that Musharraf was not a legitimately elected President.

As Musharraf administered oath to the man he kept in jail for five years, PPP participants shouted slogans of Jiye Bhutto (long live Bhutto) and Zinda hai Benazir (Benazir is alive).

Gilani is the country’s 23rd Prime Minister and the fifth Musharraf has sworn in a little over five years since November 2002.

Former premier and chief of PML-N, Nawaz Sharif on Tuesday told two senior US diplomats that the new coalition government would review Pakistan’s role in the US-led war on terror.

“We will spell our own priorities to banish extremism and terrorism and not to protect outside interests at the cost of peace at home,” Sharif repeated his words to newsmen, while briefing them about his talks with US diplomats, deputy secretary of state John Negroponte and assistant secretary of state Richard Boucher.

He also rejected the suggestion that the coalition should work with Musharraf to confront challenges faced by the country.

“Musharraf must step down as people have rejected him in the elections. He is not a legitimately elected president,” he said.

Sharif said Musharraf had transferred only problems to the new government and not the powers. “All powers are locked in the box of legal framework order (LFO)”, a reference to the constitutional amendments made by Musharraf in 2002 to immediately enhance his powers. He said all decisions would be taken in Parliament.

Sharif said he wanted peace around the world but did not want Pakistan turned into a “murder-house” to achieve that aim. “We discussed terrorism, we informed them that our point of view is that since 9/11 all decisions were made by one man,” said Sharif.

“Now the situation has changed, a truly representative Parliament has come into being.... every decision will be presented before the Parliament, they will review Musharraf’s policy in the past six years,” he said. Sharif said a parliamentary committee would be set up, “which will examine this international concern and then keeping in view national aspirations will give recommendations.”

He said Musharraf used the “war on terrorism” to perpetuate his rule. No cabinet and no Parliament were taken into confidence in any of his decisions.

That is why it did not have popular support,” Sharif said. He said both the US and Pakistan wanted to see the world, which was “free of terrorism” and where innocent people did not suffer. “We want to see peace in every corner of the world and we want to see peace in Pakistan too. We do not want that in order to give peace to others, we turn our own country into a murder house,” he said.

Islamabad, March 25
The Army chief, Gen Ashfaque Pervez Kayani, has made some crucial changes in the force by replacing several commanders appointed by President Pervez Musharraf on key positions.

Maj-Gen Asif has taken over as director-general of military intelligence, while outgoing Maj-Gen Nadeem Ijaz has been put on hold for the next appointment.

Lt-Gen Shafaat Ullah Shah, corps commander, Lahore, has been posted as chief of logistic staff at the general headquarters, whereas Lt-Gen Ijaz Ahmed Bakhshi has been posted as corps commander, Lahore.

The key Mangla command has been assigned to Lt-Gen Nadeem Ahmed, who replaces Lt-Gen Sajjad Akram. Lt-Gen Shujaat Zamir Dar has been posted as director-general, weapons and equipment, general headquarters.

Thimphu, March 25
The new democratic Bhutan government led by Druk Phuensum Tshogpa party, which has promised to pursue ‘exemplary and mutually beneficial’ ties with India, is likely to be in place within a month, party leaders said here today, while vowing to ‘consolidate’ the monarchy’s policies.

“We are in the process of finalising our team, which will be endorsed by the executive committee of the party,” former prime minister Yeshey Zimba said, a day after the Himalayan kingdom became the world’s youngest democracy.

The government would consolidate on the policies adopted by the kings over the years, Zimba said and added, “We don’t need a change in our policy because that is the best policy and we want to continue it.”

Headed by former Prime Minister Jigme Thinley, the new government would have 10 ministers, he said.

The party, which won 44 out of 47 seats in yesterday’s polls, thrashing the People’s Democratic Party, had vowed in its election manifesto to “carry forward the exemplary and mutually beneficial cooperation that is the hallmark of relations between India and Bhutan and deepen economic ties.”

Former foreign secretary Ugyen Tshering, who emerged victorious from the north Thimphu seat, attributed the party’s huge victory to the ‘well-planed approach to the elections’.

The party would attach highest importance to bilateral and multilateral relations. It would play an active role in promoting regional and international understanding and cooperation, Tshering added.

Meanwhile, DPT spokesman Palden Tshering said there would be female representation in the council of ministers. Four women candidates from the party had won seats. — PTI

BRIEFLY

Bruni’s nude up for sale
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India’s role praised
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UN’s war to end TB
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Abhijit Mahato remembered
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59 hurt in drunken brawl
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6 PIOs bag Soros Fellows
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