Pakistan: new corruption claims

Last Modified: 15 Feb 2008
By: Kylie Morris

President Musharraf is in growing trouble as he loses trust over many issues. Questions arose today over whether the elections will be fair.

The attorney general is alleged to have said next week's parliamentary poll will be "massively rigged".

Voters are still bruised by Musharraf's battle with the judiciary, his media crackdown, and allegations from Bhutto supporters of a cover up of how Benazir Bhutto was assassinated.

With two days to go, President Musharraf is bringing people together, not because they support him - they're unified by wanting him gone.

This coalition is not calling for votes. They want an electoral boycott.

Even Pakistan's famed former cricket captain says the only way to win this time is not to compete.

Imran Khan, leader of Movement for Justice said: "How can you fight an election? The country is doomed."

Efforts to control TV anchor Hamid Mir have been less successful. He's banned from presenting, but speaks freely enough of his disappointment in the president.

Hamid Mir, Geo TV political editor said: "I never expected he can take such a brutal action. Now I think he's lost his mental balance."

Yesterday, the president appeared in fine fettle when he guaranteed the elections would be free and fair but today it emerged that may not have been the understanding of his key lieutenant and attorney general Malik Qayyum.

It is thought lingering suspicions of a cover up of the real circumstances of Benazir Bhutto's murder, which damage the president most here.

Few have found comfort in Scotland Yard's findings, which echo the government's position that she died from the effects of a bomb blast.

Instead many believe she was shot first and that makes a critical difference.

Taking a closer look at the footage of that moment you can see a man with a gun to the left of her car."

He holds his gun high only two metres from where Benazir Bhutto stands. Shots are fired. Her scarf flies up... she drops and only later the blast follows.

No wonder there's confusion at the official version of events.

President Musharraf today was dressed casually, planting trees. He's dubbed the father of the nation but he can't be so unaware of his people's disappointment and fears.

They've reason to doubt his calm.