'Musharraf TV' bids to spin image

By M Ilyas Khan
BBC News, Karachi

The role of the star performer in the show is not yet clear

Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf is embarking on an image offensive ahead of presidential elections this year by starring in a new TV series.

He will be the regular star guest on From the President's House, which was launched on Monday evening.

The show will be on PTV and partly or wholly on some private channels.

Gen Musharraf has endured a number of crises recently, including the Red Mosque siege, but a spokesman said this was not part of a re-election campaign.

Controversial re-election

The first show was aired at 2000 local time (1500 GMT) but there is some confusion over exactly how often it will be broadcast.

Some PTV executives say that it will be a fortnightly affair, but the channel's Controller of Current Affairs, Samuel Mushtaq, told the BBC's Urdu service in Islamabad that it would be aired every Monday.

Protesting lawyers have added to the president's difficult year

Mr Mushtaq did not say whether the president would appear all the time on the programme - entitled Aiwan-e-Sadr Se.

He said that said every programme would be "topic-specific", and would be conducted in an interactive manner between Gen Musharraf, a host and some invitees.

The topics would range from politics to education, health and defence, he said.

The idea for the programme comes at a time when the president is preparing to force his controversial re-election while still remaining army chief, a step opposition groups are likely to challenge in the courts and on the streets.

It also comes at a time when Gen Musharraf's popularity has nosedived.

A major reason for the downturn was the suspension - and later reinstatement after public clamour - of the chief justice.

One official source believes the idea may be a product of those presidential advisers who think the judicial crisis has created a gulf between Gen Musharraf and the public.

Sources say the contents of the programme are likely to revolve around Gen Musharraf's achievements during his eight years in power, and his vision for the future.

The first programme included a discussion on Islamic schools.

The PTV official declined to answer whether the programme idea had some from the presidency or whether it was a product of PTV.

A presidential spokesman, when approached for comment on the purpose of the programme, said: "A TV programme does not have to have a purpose."