These Assemblies Will Elect Me: Musharraf

Daily Times

Thursday, May 18, 2006

ISLAMABAD: President General Pervez Musharraf on Wednesday said the existing parliament was constitutionally privileged to re-elect him for a second term.

“There is no ambiguity in the Constitution in this regard and people debating the issue through existing assemblies are unaware of the Constitution,” said Musharraf in an interview with AVT Khyber. He made it clear, “existing assemblies will elect president for second term instead of new assemblies.”

The president said elections would be held for the second term at least one month and up to two months prior to the end of his tenure – which would cease on November 15, 2007. “According to constitutional stipulation, the presidential election can be held any time from September 15 to October 15, 2007,” he said.

In the interview to the Pushto language channel, Musharraf also touched on issues pertaining to national politics, Pakistan-Afghanistan relations, the war against terrorism and the law and order situation in Balochistan and the Federally Administered Tribal Areas.

“I completely believe in the supremacy of parliament and stability of democratic institutions, and completion of legitimate five-year tenure by existing assemblies will be ample proof that I champion democracy,” he said.

He reiterated his resolve to flush out terrorists from FATA, adding that terrorists active in the tribal belt were causing huge losses to the country. Online