Islamabad, Sept 21 (IRNA) U.S. President George W. Bush should press the Pakistani President to restore civilian rule, hold free and fair elections, and end legal discrimination against women, an
international rights group said on Wednesday.

Human Rights Watch urged President Bush to stop turning a blind eye to Musharraf's use of torture and "disappearances" in the fight against terrorism and in Pakistan's political conflicts, the HRW said in a statement, received here.

The two leaders are scheduled to meet on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly on September 22.

"If Bush is serious about fostering democracy in the Muslim world, how can he support Musharraf's refusal to end military rule in Pakistan?" said Brad Adams, Asia director at Human Rights Watch.

"President Bush should make it clear that the U.S would not stand by as it did in the past when Musharraf subverted the Pakistani constitution and staged flawed elections."
The Pakistani constitution prohibits the chief of the army from holding a political office.

Musharraf in 2003 promised to step down as either army chief or president, but reneged the following year.

Recent statements by Musharraf and military-backed politicians have made clear that he intends to stay on as army chief and president beyond the date set for elections in 2007.

They have also suggested that he could be somehow re-elected president by the outgoing parliament, which may try to extend its term unilaterally by one year to do so in 2008.

Human Rights Watch noted that the Pakistani military is the country's leading violator of human rights.

Under Musharraf, military impunity for abuses has increased dramatically.

These abuses include extrajudicial killings, torture, arbitrary arrests and the persecution of political opponents.

"During their meeting in New York, President Bush should tell Musharraf just that the Pakistani military's rampant abuses must end."