United Nations, Sept 13: Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf has rejected the suggestion that he allow former prime ministers Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif to contest the forthcoming parliamentary polls in the interest of democracy.

"They are convicted in various cases and a number of cases are pending against them," he told an Indian correspondent and then counter-questioned her, "do you allow convicts to stand for elections and become prime ministers in your country?" "Benazir went out on her own. We did not send her out. In fact, she went in the days of Nawaz Sharif. She is staying out on her own sweet will. If she comes back, she has to face the legal processes in Pakistan," he added.

Nawaz Sharif, he said, has also been convicted and he is staying out because of an agreement. "That is the reality."
As far as elections are concerned, he said, new leadership is emerging which the country needs. Democracy cannot be converted in a "family cult" as was being done in the past.

He denied that the recent constitutional amendments he had proclaimed made him all powerful, adding power means taking executive and legislative actions and that rests with the prime minister and the cabinet.
Bureau Report