Musharraf To Quit as Army Chief, Bhutto Says
This article is from the archive of The New York Sun before the launch of its new website in 2022. The Sun has neither altered nor updated such articles but will seek to correct any errors, mis-categorizations or other problems introduced during transfer.
LONDON – Pakistan’s exiled former prime minister said today that President Musharraf had agreed to step down as military chief in a move she expected before the next presidential election.
Benazir Bhutto also said that corruption charges would be dropped against her and dozens of other lawmakers as part of ongoing negotiations to restore civilian rule.
Mrs. Bhutto, a two-time prime minister who left Pakistan in 1999 to avoid a government collapse, has been in negotiations with Mr. Musharraf.
She confirmed reports that Mr. Musharraf had agreed to step down as military chief as a key part of political negotiations in a power-sharing agreement.
“We’re very pleased that General Musharraf has taken the decision to listen to the people of Pakistan by taking the decision to take off the uniform, ” Mrs. Bhutto said. “I expected that he will step down (as army chief) before the presidential elections, but that is for the president to say.”
