Musharraf to seek re-election in uniform in Sept-Oct: Minister

ISLAMABAD: Notwithstanding threats of the opposition to resign en mass, Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf would go ahead with his plans to get re-elected in Army uniform by existing national and provincial assemblies between September and October this year, a senior minister here said on Friday.

The Presidential election is to be held between September 15 and October 15, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Sher Afghan Niazi said.

"The term of President Pervez Musharraf in office ends on November 15 and fresh presidential election will have to be held in September or October. Presidential election cannot be stopped in any case," he said.

Asked whether Musharraf will contest the next election in uniform, Niazi said as the Presidential polls are to be held before the President's tenure ends, it is apparent that he will contest in uniform.

Niazi said the general elections would be held after the Presidential polls. The two elections would be held without the participation of former Prime Ministers Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif.

Rejecting reports of a deal between Musharraf and Bhutto, he said the exiled former premiers would not be in Pakistan at the time of election. "But, one thing is very clear that Benazir Bhutto will not boycott the elections."

He noted that Bhutto opted for self exile while Sharif left Pakistan under a deal. "I have seen the contents of agreement between the government and Sharif and he cannot return to Pakistan before ten years in exile are completed."

Musharraf, himself, announced in the past that he planned to get re-elected between September and October but the timing of Niazi's remarks giving details of how Musharraf would go ahead with his re-election despite the political crisis sparked by the suspension of Chief Justice Iftikhar M Chaudhry was considered significant as they came during the ongoing visit of two top US officials.

While Assistant Secretary Richard Boucher is in Pakistan for the past three days, Deputy Secretary John Negroponte arrived today for talks with Musharraf and other officials.

Niazi said under the schedule, the Presidential election would be conducted by the Chief Election Commissioner. "The electoral college for the presidential election comprises of the Senate, National Assembly and the provincial assemblies."

Significantly, Niazi, a former Bhutto loyalist who later defected to join the pro-Musharraf government, said it was not mandatory that the President needed to get elected by all the provincial assemblies.

Apparently referring to chances of opposition legislators resigning en mass, specially in North West Frontier Provincial (NWFP) assembly where Muttahida Majlis-e Amal (MMA) - which in opposition at the centre - had the majority, he hinted that the NWFP assembly could be dissolved.

It is not mandatory that all the assemblies are intact on the date of election, as Constitution has mentioned only "provincial assemblies" but made no mention of the figure, Niazi said.

Musharraf could be re-elected by the remaining three assemblies in Punjab, Sindh and Balochistan, where the ruling PML-Q and its allies are in majority. PML-Q and MMA share power in Balochistan.

Opposition parties said they would consider resigning from assemblies to thwart Musharraf's re-election for a five-year term as he had already been elected by the same assemblies in 2002. The government, however, threatened to hold by-elections to fill the vacancies.

"So in case, if any provincial assembly is not intact between September 15 to October 15, even then Presidential election cannot be stopped," Niazi said.

Replying to a question, he said more than one candidates can contest the Presidential elections.

The present government headed by Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz would automatically stand dissolved on November 15, 2007 when it completes five year term. "Then the caretaker set up will be announced in consultation with the President while the Governors will decide about the provincial caretaker governments."

He said under the Constitution there would be a 60-day time for the next election after the dissolution of the governments on completion of their respective tenures.

"Once the election process completes, 14 days are mandatory for consolidation of results," he said, adding "all this process is to be completed within 74 days when the elections are held in routine."

"But, in case the assemblies are dissolved before completion of their tenure, then it takes 104 days to complete the election process and consolidation of results."

When asked about delimitation of constituencies, Afgan said "no such proposal was under consideration and election would be held on the basis existing constituencies."