Islamabad: Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf is planning to stand down from the powerful position of Army Chief after securing his re-election for a second term in October, a senior official of the ruling party said on Monday.
“We expect that after his re-election process next month, God willing, Gen Musharraf would take his oath of office as a civilian President before November 15,” Mushahid Hussain Sayed, Secretary-General of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League (PML), said.
Musharraf's current term as President expires on November 15.
“Yes, I have no doubt that the President will keep his commitment and... he is clear on this issue,” Sayed, who recently met Musharraf, said.
On Sunday, Pakistan's Election Commission amended rules that bar government servants from contesting presidential polls, a move that paved the way for Musharraf's re-election to the top post. The move drew sharp reaction from Opposition parties which vowed to block it.
An Election Commission official said the poll panel has amended Presidential Election Rules, so that Article 63 of the Constitution that has a clause to bar government servants from participating in elections unless they have been retired for at least two years, no longer applies to the President.
Kunwar Irshad, Secretary of EC, said “if he (the candidate) has been in the service of Pakistan or of any statutory body or any body which is owned or controlled by the government or in which the government has a controlling share or interest, unless a period of two years has elapsed since he ceased to be in such service” has been amended to exempt Musharraf, who continued as Chief of Army.
He said the Presidential Election Rules have been amended with the approval of President himself.
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