ISLAMABAD, Pakistan — Pervez Musharraf embarked on a new, five-year term today as a civilian president, a day after ceding the post of army chief — the basis of his rule for eight years.
In his inaugural address, Musharraf welcomed the return from exile of old foes, former Prime Ministers Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif, calling it “good” for reconciliation.
However, neither was present at the ceremony in the state palace in Islamabad, and it remained unclear whether the changeover would defuse the threat of a boycott of upcoming parliamentary elections.
Such a move would undercut Musharraf’s effort to legitimize his rule through a democratic ballot.
“This is a milestone in the transition of Pakistan to the complete essence of democracy,” Musharraf told an audience of government officials, foreign diplomats and military generals.
“Elections will be held in January come whatever may.”
On Wednesday, a tearful Musharraf ended a four-decade military career as part of his long-delayed pledge not to hold both jobs.
The United States, keen to promote democracy while keeping Pakistan focused on fighting Islamic extremism, praised Musharraf’s relaxation of his grip on power as a “good step” forward.
But it gave him no slack on the other key demand that he end a state of emergency that has enraged political rivals, strained his close ties with the West and cast doubt on the ability of opposition parties to campaign for the parliamentary elections.
“We welcome Musharraf’s decision to shed the uniform,” Bhutto said Wednesday. “Now the Pakistani army has got a full-fledged chief, and they can better perform their duties.”
But she said her party would “not take any decision in haste” on whether it could accept Musharraf as head of state.
Sharif rejected Musharraf’s presidency, saying his oath would have “no legitimacy.”
