Dissolution of Pak assemblies, interim set up soon
Islamabad,
Oct
10:
As
the
Pakistan
national
assembly
will
complete
its
five-year
term
on
November
15,
President
Pervez
Musharraf
has
begun
consulting
his
political
aides
modalities
for
installation
of
an
interim
set
up
for
holding
general
elections
in
the
country.
''Gen Musharraf discussed the interim set-up and dissolution of assemblies with Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz and his top political aides last evening,'' The Nation said.
The high-level consultations held at the President's camp office Rawalpindi were also attended by ruling Pakistan Muslim League chief Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, chief minister of Punjab Chaudhry Pervez Elahi, the officials privy to the meeting informed.
They said the President discussed at length with his aides the modalities of the interim set up and the likely candidates for the post of caretaker Prime Minister.
The other issue that was deliberated upon was the timing for the dissolution of assemblies, said an official. The President also discussed with his top political aides the petitions against his candidature in the Supreme Court, he added.
The meeting also took up for discussion the President's address to the nation after the Supreme Court decision on his candidature, the official said.
However, he said the discussions focused on the National Reconciliation Ordinance, which seeks to withdraw cases of corruption against former premier Benazir Bhutto and other Pakistan Peoples Party leaders, the reaction of public in this regard and especially the unexpected outrage as well as challenging of the ordinance in the Supreme Court.
The meeting decided that whatever be the apex court verdict on vital issue, it would be acceptable to the government, the official added.
He also said the participants of meeting observed that the ordinance had not only harmed the political career of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto but also brought bad name to the government.
According to official, the other issues that figured up for discussions during the high level meeting included the return of Ms Bhutto to Pakistan as well as that of PML-N leader, Mian Nawaz Sharif and its impact on national politics.
UNI