Washington, Jan 4: Democratic presidential contender Bill Richardson has argued that the United States should suspend all non-terrorism-related military aid to Pakistan until President Musharraf steps aside.

Richardson said, Last week’s former Pakistan Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto’s assassination and the rioting that spread across Pakistan, show that Musharraf cannot maintain law and order.

“Only a new government, with broader support than Musharraf, can restore order to Pakistan and re-engage an effective fight against Al Qaeda and the Taliban, he added.

He further argued that support for Musharraf must end not only because it is provoking disorder, but also because it is alienating the Pakistani people from the US.

Richardson suggests that a temporary government of technocrats, supported externally by a coalition of the main democratic parties, would give its best shot at ending the current disorder and holding free and fair elections in Pakistan. (ANI)