Pakistan’s Military Ruler Promises Elections in 2002

Gen. Pervez Musharraf, who seized power in Pakistan in 1999 and recently declared himself president, promised Tuesday to hold nationwide elections--the final stop on a “road map to democracy”--just before the third anniversary of his bloodless coup.

In a speech marking 54 years of Pakistani independence, Musharraf said elections for federal and provincial parliaments will be held Oct. 1-11, 2002.

Previously, he has said that national political parties could participate, but he made no mention of the subject Tuesday. He said the actual transfer of power to a civilian set-up--in which he will remain president--will be completed between October and November next year.

Musharraf also introduced a harsh new anti-terrorism law and banned two militant extremist groups, promising to stamp out sectarian violence that has long plagued the South Asian nation and has left hundreds dead.

“Pakistan is confronted by sectarian and ethnic extremists,” he said. “Our society has become an intolerant society, and unfortunately innocent people are being killed.”

Both outlawed groups are accused of assaults on rival mosques and drive-by shootings.

The international community has been pressing for a return to democracy in Pakistan, once a key U.S. ally and a nuclear power along with its neighbor and rival, India.

The United States imposed sanctions on Pakistan after Musharraf, then army chief of staff, seized power Oct. 12, 1999, saying the civilian government of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had ruined the economy and threatened the survival of the country.

The coup was the most recent in a nation where the military has ruled for 27 of the last 54 years.

It is expected that if a civilian government is restored, Washington will lift sanctions.