Islamabad, July 17: Former Pakistan Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto has accused the Musharraf government of ignoring the strong public support enjoyed by Pakistan People's Party (PPP) by stopping her personal participation in the October elections. ''The Musharraf regime has resorted to amending the constitution and the law in a blatant attempt to prevent my personal participation in the upcoming elections,'' the news quoted Ms Bhutto as saying. ''I condemn the subjugation of Pakistan's constitution and law to service the political ambitions of Gen Musharraf's dictatorial junta,'' the PPP Chief said in a statement here yesterday.
Accusing Gen Musharraf of ignoring the principles of natural justice, ms bhutto said he had passed an absentee law with retrospective effect to sentence persons living overseas without giving them a hearing. She warned that country was again being dragged down by a military dictator and unless he (Gen Musharraf) was stopped, the nation and the stability of the region would be in grave danger, the paper said in the report.

The PPP chief called for the implementation of the electoral reform package to ensure that the elections are transparent.

Unless such reforms are implemented, it would make a clear mockery of Gen Musharraf's commitment to the Pakistani people and the international community to hold transparent elections, the PPP chief said.

Bureau Report