Musharraf to Take Over as Pakistan's President

I S L A M A B A D, Pakistan, June 20, 2001 -- Pakistan's military ruler Gen. Pervez Musharrafincreased his power today by suddenly dismissing thecountry's president and appointing himself as his replacement. Healso dissolved the suspended National Assembly and the fourprovisional assemblies.

Musharraf appeared to make the moves to guarantee himself aposition in future governments once democracy returns to Pakistanand there is an elected parliament and prime minister.

Musharraf seized power in Pakistan in a bloodless military coupin October 1999, dismissing the elected government of PrimeMinister Nawaz Sharif after accusing it of widespread corruptionand violations of the country's constitution. Musharraf suspendedthe Senate, the National Assembly, and four provincial assembliesin moves that were widely criticized by many other countries asundemocratic.

The only elected position of government that remained in officewas President Rafiq Tarrar, whose position had long been largelyceremonial.

It was not immediately clear today why Musharraf did notalso dissolve the suspended Senate, which was the second-most-powerful house of Parliament.

Promises of Reform, Democracy

Soon after the coup, Musharraf appointed a Cabinet of civiliansand a powerful body called the National Security Council, whichincluded military commanders and civilians. Since then, Musharrafhas promised to introduce reforms to improve the beleagueredeconomy and fight corruption.

He also has promised to return the country to democracy beforeOctober 2002 in line with a Supreme Court decision in a case thatwas filed by opposition political parties.

State-run radio and television announced the presidential changein special bulletins today and said that Musharraf would besworn in as president by Chief Justice Irshad Hasan Khan later today under the provisional constitution that Musharraf put inplace after his coup.

As president, Musharraf will continue to hold the powerfulpositions of army chief of staff and chief executive, the officialannouncement said.

Consolidating Power

There had been widespread speculation that he might seek tobecome president and hold onto that post after the elections in2002, but his office had made no announcement ahead of today'smove.

It also could be part of the military's plan to strengthen theoffice of president and pave the way for a new political systemthat would be run by civilians but supervised by the army.

In fact, the democratic elections are not expected to be helduntil after amendments to the constitution are made aimed atproviding a dominant role to the army.

Musharraf was the fourth military ruler to assume the power ofpresident in a country that has been ruled by the military for 26of its 53 years of independence.

Declining Popularity

Many Pakistanis, frustrated by relentless corruption and abuseof power by successive democratic governments, at first welcomedMusharraf's military takeover and demanded stern action againstcorrupt politicians, bureaucrats and industrialists.

But since then critics have said that his manipulations of theconstitution and the government's structure may have permanentlydamaged the principle of civilian rule in Pakistan.

Corruption remains a major issue in the country, where fourelected governments, including Sharif's, have been thrown out ofpower for that reason since 1990.