Proposers of Musharraf's nomination liable to prison term : Ahsan

Islamabad, Sep 27 (UNI) Amicus curiae in the dual offices case against Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf submitted before the Supreme Court that the parliamentarians who propose and second the nomination of an army chief for the presidential election were liable to ten years in prison.

Chaudhry Aitzaz Ahsan told a nine-judge bench, which is hearing a set of petitions challenging Gen Musharraf's two offices and his re-election bid, that no army officer could run for the office of President, since it was political in nature.

''There is a constitutional firewall around the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), even under the amended Constitution,'' he said.

He argued that the government counsel's contention that the way for a President becoming Army Chief had been cleared through the 17th Amendment and the two-offices bill holds no water as the ''impediments'' in the way of the COAS becoming President were still in place, Daily Times reported.

According to the two-offices Bill, the President can stand for re-election but the COAS cannot, he said.

''Can the Chief Election Commissioner stand for election on a promise that he would resign from government service if elected?'' Mr Ahsan asked.

He said though Gen Musharraf had secured constitutional mandate to continue with the two offices till November 15, he was not qualified to run for another term as President.

The court also rejected State Sharifuddin Pirzada's arguement that the petitions against the President were not maintainable, saying they involve a matter of public significance and national importance.

UNI