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‘BB can’t demand my resignation’

* Musharraf refuses to give date on removing uniform
* Says Pakistani nukes under ‘total custodial control’

Daily Times Monitor

LAHORE: President General Pervez Musharraf said on Tuesday that former premier Benazir Bhutto had no right to ask him to resign as president as well as chief of army staff.

In an interview with the New York Times, Musharraf vigorously defended his declaration of emergency rule, insisting that it would not interfere with the holding of transparent elections.

Rejecting an appeal by US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to lift emergency rule, he said, “I totally disagree with her.” General Musharraf was critical of Bhutto, saying she was confrontational and would be difficult to work with.

Musharraf complained about her conduct since her return a month ago, saying: “You come here on supposedly on a reconciliatory mode, and right before you land, you’re on a confrontationist mode. I am afraid this is producing negative vibes, negative optics.”

No date on uniform: He refused to say when he would remove his uniform. “It will happen soon,” he said.

Regarding Bhutto’s house arrest, Musharraf said she was under house arrest because she had accused Punjab Chief Minister Chaudhry Pervez Elahi of plotting against her. Thus Bhutto was grounded to prevent an incident that she could then blame on the government, he said. About Bhutto’s claim of sweeping the polls, Musharraf told the newspaper, “Let’s start the elections and let’s see whether she wins.” He also referred to the Constitution, saying that it doesn’t allow third time premiership.

Regarding the popular view about emergency rule, he said, “People’s view is why have I done it so late.” Western governments and their media, he said, misread Bhutto’s support because they placed too much emphasis on the significance of human rights advocates in Pakistan.

“Ninety percent of human rights activists may have never cast their votes. They sleep on the day of elections,” he told the newspaper.

Nukes safe: Musharraf told Fox News radio that Pakistan’s nukes were under “total custodial controls”, AFP reported.

“We created a strategic planning division and we have a national command authority which is the overall organising institution into development and employment of strategic assets,” he said.

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