Musharraf's rivals vow to banish army from politics

ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - Pakistani opposition parties whichinflicted a crushing defeat on President Pervez Musharraf'sallies in last week's election vowed on Wednesday to banish themilitary from politics.

At a show of strength gathering attended by 171 NationalAssembly members-elect, they also called on President PervezMusharraf to immediately summon parliament so they can showthey have the majority needed to choose the next primeminister.

U.S. ally Musharraf seized power as a general in 1999 butstepped down as chief of the powerful army in November beforebecoming a civilian ruler of a country which the military hasruled for more than half of its 60 years of existence.

While Musharraf did not take part in the February 18parliamentary elections, the main party that backs him sufferedheavy losses, largely because of the president's unpopularityand anger over rising prices and food shortages.

The Pakistan People's Party (PPP) of assassinated formerprime minister Benazir Bhutto won the most seats but not enoughto form a government on its own.

The Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) of another former primeminister, Nawaz Sharif, came second and the two parties are intalks, along with a smaller third group, on a coalitiongovernment 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 supremacyof the military-led establishment.

"I think the homage to my ... wife would be that we unitetogether, we take democracy, we take power for parliament andonce and for all, finish the establishment," Zardari told themeeting.

Bhutto was assassinated on December 27 in a gun and bombattack blamed on al Qaeda-linked militants.

"LONG-LASTING DEMOCRACY"

Sharif assured Zardari that his party would extend fullsupport to him, although he did not say his party would acceptcabinet posts. Some senior officials in Sharif's party havesaid it might support the PPP, but not serve in the government.

"We must see that we have a long-lasting democracy in thiscountry and abandon the role of the army and the military inthe politics of Pakistan forever," Sharif said.

"This is what we should be striving for."

Zardari did not mention Musharraf, but Sharif said thepeople had sent him a message on election day.

"It should be amply clear to him that the nation has givenits verdict against dictatorship," Sharif said.

Musharraf has rejected opposition calls to resign and hassaid he was ready to work with whoever becomes prime minister.

Confrontation between the president and a hostileparliament in nuclear-armed Pakistan could prolong instability,which allies fear could distract attention from the battleagainst rising militant violence.

Bhutto and Sharif were arch rivals in the 1990s when theyboth ruled as prime minister twice, but they became allies inopposition to Musharraf.

Sharif said the opposition parties would end up withtwo-thirds of National Assembly seats and he called onMusharraf to call the session as soon as the ElectionCommission issues official results. It is expected to declareresults by Saturday.

"We are not prepared to wait for a single more day for theassembly to be convened," he said.

Neither Zardari not Sharif contested elections and a seniorPPP leader, Makhdoom Amin Faheem, is expected to be nominatedfor the post of prime minister.

(Additional reporting and writing by Zeeshan Haider;Editing by David Fox)