Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf has begun an eight-day visit to Europe, with democracy and tackling terror on the agenda as he meets EU leaders.
Beginning in Brussels, the visit will take him to UK, France and the world Economic Forum in Switzerland. The tour is President Musharraf’s first trip abroad since his controversial re-election and the murder of OPakistani opposition leader Benazir Bhutto.
He aims to clear ” misperceptions” of recent events in Pakistan, he said.The BBC’s Barbara Plant in Islamabad says Mr Musharraf is deeply unpopular at home-members of civil society and opposition political parties do not accept his leadership, especially after his recent imposition of emergency rule.
Many Pakistanis see Mr Musharraf and the army’s dominated role in political life as a cause of instability, our correspondent the EU’s foreign policy chief Javier Solana, and is due to meet Nato Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer. The president is also due to address the influential foreign affairs coomittee of the European Parliament.
BBC Brussels correspondent Oana Lungescu says the Pkistani leader is bound to face tough questions about the conduct of a postpopned general election scheduled for next month, democratic reforms and the role of Pakistan inthe fight against terrorism.
The president immediately tried to reassure those worried about the course of democracy in his country and the delay in holding the vote, which was initially schedulrd for January.
” we must have fair and transparent election on february 18”, he said in Brussels. ” Whoever wins, obviously power will be handed over to them.’
” we are going to be returning to free, fair and transparent alections, and peaceful elections, he said” ” We are for democracy and I have introduced the essence of democracy, but we cannot br as forward looking as you( in the West) are. ” Allow us some time to reach that state,” he said.
Leave Your Comments