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Journalism of Courage
Nov 9: Pakistan8217;s military ruler, General Pervez Musharraf, insisted on Monday there was no timetable for his country8217;s return to democracy until what he said his own goals were achieved.
Gen Musharraf who seized power last month in a bloodless coup ousting civilian Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif 8212; used a one-day visit to NATO-member Turkey to address a range of issues that are under close western scrutiny.8220;What the western world may be looking for is the label of democracy.
After meeting Turkish Prime Minister BulentEcevit, Musharraf said Ecevit had shown a 8220;total understanding8221; of his position and agreed on further cooperation.
Gen. Musharraf said he planned to delegate power at the district level in Pakistan to enable more people to participate in ruling, a system he called 8220;democracy at grassroots8221;.
8220;We would like to give them authority and also power for revenue collection. So they will have the financial power and also the areas like the education, health and communication which they look after for themselves,8221; he said.
Gen. Musharraf, who also speaks Turkish after spending part of his childhood in Ankara, met President Suleyman Demirel later in the evening.Demirel, himself twice ousted as Prime Minister in military coups, was to give Musharraf 8220;lessons in democracy8221;, one of the President8217;s foreign policy advisors told Reuters earlier.
Gen Musharraf also said he would seek a national consensus before deciding on whether to sign the Comprehensive nuclear Test Ban treaty. Western countries eagerly seeknuclear-capable Pakistan8217;s signature.
He said his country should be able to stand on its feet financially. 8220;My primary concern will remain as to keep Pakistan outside the bonds of the IMF and the world bank.8221;Veteran leftist Ecevit, also imprisoned when Turkey8217;s generals took power in 1980, said he regretted Musharraf8217;s coup, but said it would not affect traditionally warm ties between the overwhelmingly Muslim nations.
The Pakistani General described Turkey and Pakistan as 8220;sailing in the same boat concerning the military8217;s role8221;.
He voiced admiration for retired Turkish General Kenan Evren who captured power in 1980 in a military coup and later served as turkey8217;s President after a referendum.
Pakistan and Turkey share a history of military interruptions to often unstable civilian rules with the Pakistani Army seizing power four times since the country gained independence 52 years ago. Turkish generals have staged three coups since 1960.
