PAKISTAN: Under no circumstances should the elections due to February 18 be postponed
The reports coming out of Pakistan state that a group of 100 ex-military personnel including former generals, admirals, air marshals and other retired officers are calling for the resignation of President Musharraf with immediate effect. These former senior officers of the armed forces have formed an organization with the name of 'Ex Servicemen's Society' with the sole aim of campaigning for the resignation of the president before the general elections, which are to be held on 18, February, 2008. This Society is organizing meetings to bring pressure on the president to resign.
The observers see several complex problems relating to the rule of President Musharraf and also regarding the proposed general elections being reflected in this move. President Musharraf who was at one time the chief of the armed forces no longer holds that office although he is still the supreme commander as the head of the state. His departure from direct control of the armed forces would naturally have its impact on his capacity to control these forces. The emergence of such a large number of ex servicemen who have begun to openly demand the resignation of president Musharraf is indicative of a discontent within the armed forces itself against the president. As it is well know that president Musharraf no longer enjoys popular support in the country this new move by the ex-senior officers of the armed forces indicates also that he is losing control and support of the armed forces. Therefore the call for his resignation seems to be gaining a greater agreement in Pakistan.
However, the observers also see that this move by the ex-senior officers of the armed forces may also be an attempt to have the general elections fixed for the 18th February postponed. All the members of the 'Society' have served during the previous martial law periods and some members are believed to be instrumental in toppling the elected governments. The head of the Society, Air Marsal Asghar Khan, was the author of a letter to the then chief of army staff, General Zia Ul Haq in 1977 demanding that he take over the government of the elected Prime Minister, Mr. Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, and hang him at the hills of Islamabad, the capital of Pakistan. His demand was fulfilled when Zia Ul Haq imposed martial law in 1977.
The suspicion about the move of this Society is based on the fact that in the past when elections were due to be held officers of the armed forces have acted together with some political parties to sabotage the elections and continue martial law.
Under no circumstances should any excuse be accepted for the postponement of the general elections due to be held on 18th February. The fate of the present system of governance headed by president Musharraf must be left to the will of the people. While Musharraf's resignation and even holding him accountable for violations of the rights of the Pakistani people is a legitimate demand the central issue at this time which is just weeks before the election is to ensure that the general election will be held and that it will be held in a free and fair manner. The duty of the armed forces at this time is to carry out their constitutional obligations by adhering strictly to their legal and professional obligations by supporting and all the tasks required of them to ensure a free and fair election.
About AHRC: The Asian Human Rights Commission is a regional non-governmental organisation monitoring and lobbying human rights issues in Asia. The Hong Kong-based group was founded in 1984.
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