Most Pakistanis want Musharraf to quit army post: IRI poll
By Our Correspondent
WASHINGTON, Aug 9: Most Pakistanis want President Pervez Musharraf to step down as head of the country’s army, says a survey released on Thursday by a US think-tank. The survey by the International Republican Institute found that 62 per cent of respondents thought Gen Musharraf should resign as army chief, while 59 per cent said elections held while he continues to wear his military uniform were unlikely to be free and fair.
The report is the final part of a survey of Pakistan public opinion, which was partly released last week. The poll, conducted between June 13 and July 3, 2007, is a comprehensive analysis of attitudes regarding the Pakistani political landscape.
The randomly selected sample consisted of 4,000 adult men and women from 256 rural and 144 urban locations from 60 districts in the four provinces of Pakistan. The margin of error for the national sample will not exceed plus, minus 1.58 per cent in 19 out of 20 cases.
The institute has been conducting surveys in Pakistan since 2002, including four national polls over the past 12 months. The goal of the programme is to both gauge public opinion and to use this information in IRI’s work with Pakistan’s political parties.
Forty-seven per cent of those surveyed supported a pre-election power-sharing deal between former prime minister Benazir Bhutto and President Musharraf, while 37 per cent said they opposed such a move.
Asked if the army should play a role in civilian government, 55 per cent said it should not, while 40 per cent believed it should.
However, 48 per cent said they would support Gen Musharraf’s re-election if he first resigned from the army, called parliamentary elections and then sought re-election from the new assemblies.
Ms Bhutto and Gen Musharraf held secret talks in Abu Dhabi last month. Ms Bhutto later told a news conference in New York that they discussed a ‘package’ but could not conclude a deal. The talks failed to progress when Gen Musharraf refused to accept her demand to quit the army and seek re-election as a civilian president.
Ms Bhutto also wants the president to undo a law that prevents a third term as premier.
