Pakistani President General Pervez Musharraf Tuesday named his
successor as army chief, and announced that ex-premier Benazir
Bhutto could be given amnesty over corruption charges.
According to a government minister, the decision to grant
immunity to Bhutto and other civilian leaders was made at a meeting
chaired by Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz.
Bhutto, who served as premier between 1988 and 1996, has been
charged with illegally amassing properties while in power. She was
also ordered to pay US$11 million for money laundering.
Bhutto shares a common view with Musharraf on the battle against
terrorism and said that she would cooperate with the American
military in targeting Osama bin Laden.
Musharraf, who is running for another five-year term as
president, has held talks with Bhutto for months.
Meanwhile, Lieutenant-General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani was appointed
as deputy army chief and designated Musharraf's successor, as the
general has vowed that if re-elected he would quit as army chief
before being sworn in for a new term by November 15.
Kayani's appointment has become a clear indication that
Musharraf will deliver on his promise and give up his uniform after
reelection.
Kayani had been director-general of the military's main security
agency, the Inter-Services Intelligence agency, until last
month.
(Xinhua News Agency October 3, 2007)
