Pervez Musharraf may dissolve assemblies in July

Islamabad, June 20: The Pakistan government is expected to announce the mode of President General Pervez Musharraf's re-election within a week, amid speculation about the possibility of early parliamentary elections.

''Hectic consultations are continuing with the government which is already in contact with opposition parties, particularly Benazir Bhutto's Pakistan Peoples Party, for their support to re-elect the President,'' local media reports said.

If the government reaches an understanding with the opposition parties, particularly the PPP, the assemblies would be dissolved in July to hold early general elections. The president would then seek re-election from the new assemblies.

According to the Constitution, the Presidential elections must be held not earlier than 60 days and not later than 30 days before the expiry of the term of the President in office.

The term would expire on November 15, so his re-election must be held between September 15 and October 15.

Thus, the re-election from the next assemblies was possible only if the present assemblies were dissolved, the general elections would be held within 90 days and the new assemblies were constituted before the cut-off date of October 15 for the President's re-election.

On the other hand, absolute confusion prevails in the ruling Pakistan Muslim League (PML), particularly after reports of the possible dissolution of the assemblies after the budget for fiscal 2007-08 was passed.

Most PML parliamentarians were clueless about the party's election strategy in case the President decided to get himself re-elected from the next assemblies and dissolved the present ones before they complete their constitutional tenure, Daily Times reported.

Equally important is the PML's candidate for the premiership.

Notwithstanding any understanding with the PPP, the PML would have to put up a 'face' in its election campaign. While there were reports that Shaukat Aziz would again be the PML's candidate, some insiders believed that it would be Punjab Chief Minister and PML President Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain's first cousin Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi.

UNI