Musharraf grants amnesty to Bhutto

Fri, 05 Oct 2007 19:28:14

President Musharraf

President Musharraf has signed a hard-bargained reconciliation deal with Benazir Bhutto, while the Supreme Court set back his re-election plans.

The deal was formalized in a presidential ordinance granting an amnesty to Bhutto, her husband Asif Ali Zardari and associated politicians and bureaucrats who were charged between 1985 and 1999 with embezzling millions of dollars and other corruption charges.

In return, the self-exiled liberal politician was to abandon plans for her liberal Pakistan People's Party to boycott the ballot by parliament and four provincial assemblies, DPA reported.

Aimed at promoting national reconciliation, the agreement gives much-needed legitimacy to the vote, which was undermined by the resignation this week of dozens of opposition legislators opposed to Musharraf's re-election while he holds the post of army chief.

The general, who came to power in a 1999 coup, says he will give up his military status soon after he wins another mandate.