LAHORE, Feb 22: Gen Pervez Musharraf’s self-assigned role of arbiter of a future political set-up threatens to ensure another era of flawed democracy in the country, a statement issued by the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan here on Friday said.

Such an adventure, it said, would permanently damage even the remnants, if any, of democratic structures in Pakistan.

The military, it said, was neither impartial nor disinterested in the power struggle in the country. It had been directly responsible for disturbing the balance of power necessary to sustain democracy in the country. Interference by the army in political process had proved as disastrous as flawed policies followed by politicians.

The HRCP said the Hamoodur Rahman Commission Report contained evidence indicating the severe strain under which integrity of the country was placed by the policies advocated by the army.

The recent events, it said, had proved that the national security policy imposed by the military had made the country more vulnerable than ever before. No confidence, it added, could, therefore, be placed in the military policies both on domestic governance and foreign policies.

It said democracy had its own check and balance and did not need additional balancing factors. It would be better for Gen Musharraf to formulate an exit policy and free politics of undue strain.