Opposition divided on polls

Pakistani opposition leaders appeared divided on Friday on whether to contest parliamentary...

Pakistani opposition leaders appeared divided on Friday on whether to contest parliamentary elections under

President Pervez Musharraf, a day after he bowed to international pressure by saying he would end emergency rule ahead of the ballot. Former prime minister Benazir Bhutto said her party planned to participate in the January 8 elections 8220;under protest8221;.

8220;We8217;re worried about the elections, we have our reservations, but we8217;re going in under protest,8221; Bhutto said in an interview. 8220;We hope as we participate, we can try and improve the situation,8221; she said after meeting a US congressional delegation.

She later launched her party8217;s election manifesto, promising loans for small businesses and more money for education. But she also suggested her Pakistan Peoples Party could still join a boycott by a united opposition.

8220;We were thinking to contest the elections, but we are ready to change our mind to find a common goal, a common agenda,8221; she said.

Nawaz Sharif, who now heads a 33-member opposition grouping, said he would meet with Bhutto to explain the reasons for the proposed boycott.

He said in a telephone interview that Musharraf must reinstate the Supreme Court judges, who were fired after the emergency was proclaimed on November 3 to ensure the elections would not be rigged.

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8220;We are saying 8216;please, please for heaven8217;s sake restore the judiciary to the November 2 judiciary. Don8217;t force us to boycott the elections8217;,8221; Sharif said. 8220;If there are free and fair elections we can win,8221; he said.

8220;But there is no point in Musharraf taking off his uniform or lifting emergency rule unless the judiciary is reinstated with dignity and honor. Nothing else is going to help the country,8221; he added.

On Thursday, Musharraf said he would lift emergency rule on December 16. An electoral boycott would represent a serious blow to Musharraf8217;s stated intention to restore democracy.

A US senator, who met with Bhutto at her house in Islamabad, said his congressional delegation was 8220;encouraged8221; that Bhutto would not boycott the vote.

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8220;We know how important it is that her party participate, we hope all parties participate, otherwise it will be very difficult to put together8230; a government that really serves the people,8221; said Senator Bob Corker, a Tennessee Republican.

Musharraf has urged opposition parties to participate in the elections and help strengthen democracy.