DATE=10/25/1999
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=PAKISTAN GOVERNMENT (L)
NUMBER=2-255463
BYLINE=AYAZ GUL
DATELINE=ISLAMABAD
INTERNET=YES
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: Pakistan's military rulers -- who seized power
two weeks ago -- have given civilians a majority of
the seats on the seven-member National Security
Council that will run the country for the time being.
As we hear from Ayaz Gul in Islamabad, civilians have
also been appointed to three key cabinet posts.
TEXT: Pakistan's military leader, General Pervez
Musharraf, has named four civilians, including a
woman, to the seven-member Council, which is likely
to run the country until the military decides to hold
elections.
The military members of the Council are General
Musharraf and Pakistan's air force and naval chiefs.
Among those appointed to the Council are a
constitutional expert (Sharifuddin Pirzada), the head
of Pakistan's central bank (Muhammad Yaqub), a former
civil servant (Imtiaz Sahibzada) and a prominent
social worker of the country (Attiya Inayatullah - who
also served in the last military regime of Zia ul-
Haq).
None of those named Monday held jobs in the former
government of deposed Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.
Mr.Sharif has been in protective custody since his
dismissal from power two weeks ago. The army is
reportedly investigating him on suspicion of
corruption.
General Musharraf has also named three civilians as
ministers of Foreign Affairs, Finance and as Attorney
General of Pakistan. (Foreign Minister Abdus Sattar -
a former Foreign Secretary, Finance Minister Shaukat
Aziz - a senior banker with the U-S Citibank concern)
Since taking power, General Musharraf has promised to
rebuild Pakistan's economy while cleaning up what he
says is an extremely corrupt political system. The
military leader is under international pressure to
announce a time frame for the return of democracy to
Pakistan. (SIGNED)
NEB/AG/TVM/gm
25-Oct-1999 17:12 PM EDT (25-Oct-1999 2112 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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