President Pervez Musharraf on Tuesday promised his countrymen elections in 2002 and said the polls would be held between October 1 and 11.
According to his road map, federal and provincial institutions will be rebuild before provincial and federal polling begins on October 1, 2002.
He promised to reform the Election Commission, prepare accurate election rolls and make constitutional changes that will "introduce checks and balances," into the system. He promised to reform the Election Commission, prepare accurate election rolls and make constitutional changes that will "introduce checks and balances," into the system.
In his televised speech to the local councils, which were recently created in the first phase of his blueprint for democracy, Musharraf said that the "the setting up of local bodies was not the last step toward real democracy in this country."
Rather he said it was the beginning. It will change the fabric of Pakistani society because it includes representation from previously disenfranchised groups, like women, the poor and peasant farmers, he said.

"We are taking the government to the people," said Musharraf. Political analysts anticipate changes will be made to the constitution that would strengthen the position of president and pave the way for a new political system run by civilians, but supervised by the Army.
Earlier, Musharraf addressed a gathering on the sprawling lawns of the white marble presidential palace on the occasion of Independence Day.

Bureau Report