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‘Elections sham under emergency’

Pakistan’s opposition called on President General Pervez Musharraf to lift a state of emergency, saying that upcoming parliamentary elections would be a sham.

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Benazir Bhutto plans a rally today from Lahore to Islamabad. Rules out talks with Musharraf

LAHORE: Pakistan’s opposition called on President General Pervez Musharraf to lift a state of emergency, saying that upcoming parliamentary elections would be a sham unless citizens’ rights were fully restored.

Several parties were mulling a boycott.

Meanwhile, opposition leader Benazir Bhutto on Monday urged Pakistanis of all shades to join a motorcade protest against President Pervez Musharraf’’s emergency rule and vowed it would go ahead even if police try to block her.   

Two-time former prime minister Bhutto plans to lead a 3-4 day long procession of vehicles from the city of Lahore to Islamabad on Tuesday to demand Musharraf quits as army chief, ends emergency rule, reinstates the constitution and frees thousands of detained lawyers and opponents — including many from her own party.

Benazir ruled out further power-sharing talks with Musharraf and vowed to press ahead with a protest march. “We are saying no to any more talks. It is a change from my past policy,” said Benazir, who has stepped up a campaign against a state of emergency imposed by Musharraf.

“We cannot work with anyone who has suspended the constitution, imposed emergency rule, and oppressed the judiciary. That’s why we are holding the ‘long march,’” she said.

Police have warned Benazir could face a suicide assassination bid, like the one at a rally last month to welcome her back from eight years in self-imposed exile which killed 139 people.

“I know it is dangerous,” Benazir said during a visit to the tomb of renowned 19th century poet Mohammad Iqbal during an impromptu foray into Lahore in her bullet-proof Landcruiser.   

“I don’t want to take a dangerous path, but I ask myself, what is the alternative and how can we save our country? We appeal to all people, including from other parties and minorities, women and children, to take part in this long march,” she said of the motorcade.

Police initially said they would block the convoy, just as they stifled a protest rally in the city of Rawalpindi on Friday — when Benazir was held under house arrest for most of the day.

But a senior police official in Lahore said he had no orders to stop the convoy.   

Musharraf set off a storm of criticism when he imposed emergency rule on November 3 and has come under pressure from Western allies and rivals to set the nuclear-armed country back on the path to democracy.

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