'Mush to remain Army Chief if not re-elected'

Islamabad, Sep 25: Pakistan's Attorney General Malik Muhammad Qayyum today said President Pervez Musharraf would continue to serve as the Army Chief if not re-elected for the second term.

''He (Gen Musharraf) will remain the Army Chief till such a time when the President appoints his successor,'' Mr Qayyum told reporters out side the Supreme Court, which is currently hearing identical petitions challenging a 2004 parliamentary act that allowed Gen Musharraf to hold dual offices of the President and Army Chief.

The AG's statement came a week after Musharraf informed the Supreme Court that he would relinquish Army Chief's post soon after his re-election but before taking oath as the President for the second term.

The statement was made by the Attorney General after the court asked about the possible scenario in case Gen Musharraf's fails to win the election.

The Election Commission has fixed October 6 as the date for presidential election in the country. However, leading opposition parties have announced that their legislators in federal and provincial assemblies will resign if Gen Musharraf's nomination papers are accepted.

The nine-member bench is likely to announce a short order either tomorrow or the day after on several petitions filed by Jamat-e-Islami, its chief Qazi Hussain Ahmad and cricketer-turned politician Imran Khan, who heads the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf.

UNI