Musharraf not to take oath before SC verdict

Islamabad, Oct 10 (UNI) Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf has said he will not take the oath as president until the Supreme Court decides on the petitions challenging his candidacy in the presidential polls.

''As the judiciary has fixed October 17 (as the next date of hearing), with the order not to declare the results officially, and if it (the case) continues, I will not take oath,''he told a private Pakistani TV channel.

The Supreme Court had last week allowed government to hold presidential election as per schedule, which Gen Musharraf won as expected on October 6.

However, the court had directed to withhold notification of the returned candidate till decision on petitions filed by the president's rival candidates--former Supreme Court judge Wajihuddin Ahmad and top Pakistan People's Party leader Makhdoom Amin Fahim challenging his candidacy.

In reply to a question, the president termed the PPP's absence from voting in the presidential election ''negative''.

He, however, said PPP's decision of not resigning from the assemblies was ''positive''.

The president said there were no President's or Prime Minister's groups in the PML as all of them voted in his favour.

Gen Musharraf has already announced to relinquish office of the army chief before taking oath for the second term and named Vice Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Parvez Kiyani as his successor.

UNI