The Statesman (India) : USA pushes Pervez to shed uniform & end Emergency

USA pushes Pervez to shed uniform & end Emergency

PTI & Ap | November 17, 2007

Islamabad: The USA today delivered a “strong message” to embattled Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf to end Emergency and doff uniform as senior American envoy Mr John Negroponte held talks with the General and the man tipped to succeed him as the army chief.

Amidst stepped up US efforts to persuade the military ruler to restore democracy, Mr Negroponte, US deputy secretary of state who is the highest-ranking American official to visit Pakistan since imposition of Emergency on 3 November, met the military ruler and Gen Ashfaq Pervaiz Kiyani, who is to replace Musharraf as army chief once he doffs uniform.

Mr Negroponte, who spoke on phone with former premier Ms Benazir Bhutto shortly after his arrival here yesterday, discussed the “political situation” with President Musharraf, state-run PTV reported.

President Musharraf accused the former Premier of wanting to avoid the general election due in January, saying that “the darling of the West” was unlikely to win. “She would not like to go into an election because her PPP is not in a state to win at all,” he said in an interview to BBC.