Musharraf's reelection for second stint likely on Sept 15

Islamabad, Aug 6 (UNI) Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf flew down to Karachi to brief his staunch ally, the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), on the ruling coalition's secretly planned move towards his re-election from the existing assemblies on September 15.

Dawn newspaper quoted participants of the meeting as saying that no article or clause of the constitution bars his re-election as President.

''I have absolute legal and constitutional justification for contesting the presidential election,'' he said yesterday, alluding to a relevant judgment of the Supreme Court.

Well-placed sources said at first a four-member MQM delegation led by coordination committee deputy convener Dr Farooq Sattar called on President Musharraf. Later, the President met the parliamentary delegation of the MQM. All MNAs, MPAs, senators and federal and provincial ministers belonging to the MQM attended the two-hour-long meeting. Governor Dr Ishratul Ebad was also present.

The sources said the President did not indicate that he was contemplating doffing his much-maligned uniform.

They added that while the President was in an expansive mood and spoke at length on the current political situation in the country, the Lal Masjid operation and the scourge of terrorism and extremism adversely impacting the country's economic strength, he carefully skirted around the subject of the government's contact with the leadership of the Pakistan People's Party, especially his widely reported meeting with PPP chairperson Benazir Bhutto in Abu Dhabi.

The President said, rather cryptically, that there was a talk of ''deal'', adding that the results of the next general election would clarify all such things.

He said the present set-up would continue and any change would depend on who emerged victorious from the next general election.

Dr Farooq Sattar said the role of the MQM in national and provincial politics was also discussed and appreciated by the President.

He told the MQM delegation that he would launch a mass contact drive from September 13 to inform the people about the threats of extremism and Talibanisation.

After the meeting with the MQM delegation, General Musharraf drove to the Chief Minister's House where he first met leaders of Pakistan Muslim League (Functional), headed by pro-military estbalishment spiritual leader of Sindh.

He briefed them on recent political developments and the reason why he was insisting on getting himself re-elected from the existing assemblies in uniform. He was also assured of the political party's unconditional support.

UNI