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Boycott option still open: Morticia
 ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairwoman Benzair Bhutto on Wednesday expressed serious reservations about the transparency of the upcoming general elections and said her party was keeping the option of boycott open. The former premier expressed her reservations during a series of meetings with the ambassadors of 21 countries, including 18 from Muslim countries.The foreign envoys met Benazir to discuss the countrys political scenario after the formation of a joint committee by the APDM and the ARD to chalk out a charter of demands to ensure transparent polls or to boycott the process. Benazir briefed the ambassadors on Pakistans election history and the various pre-poll and post-pool maneuvers and manipulations that the establishment has used to obtain the results of their choice, sources privy to the meeting told Daily Times. Rigging plans: They said Benazir had also informed the foreign envoys about the massive rigging plan initiated by the government. She talked about judicial transfers and postings, partial caretaker setup, the Election Commission, as well as previous chief ministers continuing to enjoy executive powers, sources said. She also told the foreign envoys that the PPP was participating in the polls in protest and was keeping the option of boycott open because her party was being pushed to the wall by the regime. We do not want to boycott the election process but at the same time, we want a level playing field for all stakeholders in transparent elections, she was quoted as saying to US Ambassador Anne W Patterson.
Posted by: Steve White 2007-12-06 |
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