The New Nation - Internet Edition

Reuters, Islamabad

Pakistani opposition parties which inflicted a crushing defeat on President Pervez Musharraf's allies in last week's election vowed on Wednesday to banish the military from politics. At a show of strength gathering attended by 171 National Assembly members-elect, they also called on President Pervez Musharraf to immediately summon parliament so they can show they have the majority needed to choose the next prime minister. U.S. ally Musharraf seized power as a general in 1999 but stepped down as chief of the powerful army in November before becoming a civilian ruler of a country which the military has ruled for more than half of its 60 years of existence. While Musharraf did not take part in the Feb. 18 parliamentary elections, the main party that backs him suffered heavy losses, largely because of the president's unpopularity and anger over rising prices and food shortages. The Pakistan People's Party (PPP) of assassinated former prime minister Benazir Bhutto won the most seats but not enough to form a government on its own. The Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) of another former prime minister, Nawaz Sharif, came second and the two parties are in talks, along with a smaller third group, on a coalition government that could force Musharraf from power. Asif Ali Zardari, Bhutto's widower who now leads the PPP, said the opposition should work together to end the supremacy of the military-led establishment.