May 28, 2002	Tuesday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 15,1423

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ISLAMABAD, May 27: The Pakistan People’s Party on Monday responded to President Musharraf’s declaration of holding elections between Oct 7 and 10, with scepticism that he might not renege from his promise as the former military dictator Zia-ul- Haq had done.

“The party hopes that the General will not renege, as did Gen Zia, on the promise and hold fair and free elections in October as directed by the Supreme Court,” PPP spokesman said in a party’s official reaction to President Musharraf address to the nation.

The spokesman dismissed the president’s speech as a regurgitation of pious hopes and vague promises designed only to once again hoodwink the domestic and international public opinion and to perpetuate his illegitimate hold on power.

“The General’s claim that he wishes to seek political consensus on the issue of border situation is belied by the General’s lone range politics which has pitted himself against domestic political forces and polarized the country,” he said.

“Last time around the official announcement inviting political parties to the APC was accompanied with declaring Benazir Bhutto as proclaimed offender in a case in which the Supreme Court has already set aside the conviction after the tapes scandal came to surface,” he added.