General takes oath as President for next five years

The 342-member National Assembly began its session amid continuing uncertainty over who would form the government.

The session was presided over by former Parliament Speaker Elahi Bux Soomro. A statement issued after Musharraf took the oath of office said ‘‘Let it be known to all and sundry that General Pervez Musharraf has today taken the oath of office and has assumed the office of the President of Pakistan,’’ it said.

Musharraf issued a decree ‘‘removal of difficulty order’’ just after midnight, reviving the 1973 Consititution. His new order said he would act as the Chief Executive till such time the new Prime Minister takes oath of office.

‘‘The President has revived the Constitution of Pakistan except a few Articles pertaining to the provincial governments, the senate of Pakistan, etc, with effect from November 16, 2002, which will be restored later,’’ an official statement said.