Musharraf okays plan for transfer of power to govt

Pakistan's military regime has cleared a plan to transfer power to a new government before November 25 with President Pervez Musharraf summo...

Pakistan’s military regime has cleared a plan to transfer power to a new government before November 25 with President Pervez Musharraf summoning the National Assembly session for November 16.

The session, originally convened for November 8, was postponed by a week on the demand of major parties which asked for more time to resolve the present political crisis over government formation.

‘‘The maiden session of the National Assembly has been convened to meet on Saturday at 11 am,’’ Principal Information Officer Akram Shaheedi announced yesterday.

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All the outgoing Cabinet members would automatically relinquish charge of their respective ministries instead of resigning from their slots, sources said.

They said the election of Speaker and Deputy Speaker will be held on November 18. Nomination papers for the Prime Minister’s post would be filed on November 21 and election would be held on November 22. The President and Prime Minister will take oath in a ceremony to be held at the Aiwan-e-Sadr. The Chief Justice of Pakistan will administer oath to the President, and it will be followed by the President administering oath to the Prime Minister.

It is expected that after this the President will relinquish the charge of the office of Chief Executive and transfer power to the new government. The five year term of the President will also start simultaneously.

The elected members will take oath in the inaugural session which is likely to be chaired by former Speaker National Assembly Elahi Baksh Soomro.

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