Pakistan's army chief supportspeaceful power transfer, poll results

General Ashfaq Pervez Kayani, chief of Pakistan'spowerful army, has announced that the army categorically supports a peaceful transferof power in Pakistan and would accept the result of the upcoming parliamentary elections.Kayani's assurance during a five-hour interaction with a group of senior journalists andcolumnists here has put to rest rumors about the postponement of the elections, whichhad recently gripped the local media.

The ruling coalition led by President Asif Zardari's Pakistan People Party (PPP) willcomplete its five-year constitutional term on March 17 and new elections are scheduledto be held in two months after the dissolution of the assemblies.

As the elections are fast approaching, some political leaders including of the PPP, hadexpressed concerns at 'efforts' to postpone elections and to prolong the period of thecaretaker set- up, that is installed for three months to supervise elections.The Pakistan army chief's declaration of support to the holding of the elections asmandated by the Constitution and the peaceful transition of power has now allayedfears about any possibility of a derailment in the election process.

"The armed forces support transparent elections and peaceful transfer of power,"General Kayani was quoted as telling the journalists, a senior columnist, Irfan Siddiqui,who writes for the largely-circulated Urdu-language daily Jang (war), wrote on Tuesday.

"We will accept election results wholeheartedly. If the people elect good or bad people,it is not our responsibility. It is our constitutional responsibility to support whoever formsa government,"General Kayani said.Kayani said that the army has not intervened in Pakistan's political affairs over the pastfive years and will pursue the same policy in line with the provision of the Constitution.

The army chief's assurance was obviously made to dispel the impression created onTV debates and the local media that there are certain government and oppositionleaders who have reportedly hatched some plans to "hijack the elections process."

Analysts are saying that it is now time for the government to begin talks with the mainopposition Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) headed by former Prime Minister NawazSharif to choose a caretaker Prime minister to remove apprehensions about theelections.

The government is bound under the Constitution to agree with the main oppositionparty in the parliament to select a caretaker leader that would run the country whileelections are being prepared and held.

The opposition said it has already submitted two names for the selection process. Thegovernment will have to submit two other names and from the four names, the twoparties will pick up one to lead the caretaker government. If both sides fail to reach consensus on one name then the issue will be referred to theChief Election Commissioner.

Political bitterness in Pakistan is so deep that the government and the main oppositionhave not yet agreed to open formal dialogue on the caretaker setup when two weeksare left with the current government.Presidential Spokesman Farhatullah Babar said on Monday that no talks have yet beenstarted on the caretaker structure.

The government and the opposition could remove all apprehensions about theelections by taking the necessary actions toward the setting up of the caretakermachinery since any further delay could only fan the uncertainties caused byrumormongers.

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