Pak govt a long way off

With Pakistan’s military regime stating that transfer of power to civil administration may be delayed till completion of Senate elections next month, the efforts to form a new government were further complicated as pro-Musharraf Pakistan Muslim League – Qaide Azam, PML(Q), failed to elect a leader who could be its Prime Ministerial candidate.

	Front-runner for government wants ban on co-education
PESHAWAR: A leader of the hardline Pakistani Islamic alliance that emerged as a possible coalition partner after this month’s election said on Sunday his movement would seek to ban co-education. Qazi Hussain Ahmed, vice-president of the Mutahidda Majlis-E-Amal alliance of six Islamic groups, said: ‘‘There will be no restrictions on women but they have to live according to the teachings of Islam.” (Reuters)

Federal Law Minister Khalid Ranjha said here on Saturday that election of new Prime Minister may be delayed due to preparations for Senate elections. Ranjha said that previously the new Prime Minister used to be elected in the presence of the Senate. It is generally felt that the new PM should be elected after the Senate elections, he added.

The Senate elections are due to be held on November 12.

Meanwhile, complicating the efforts to form a coalition government at the Centre, PML(Q), which won 77 seats in the October 10 general elections to the National Assembly, failed to elect a leader who could be the Prime Ministerial candidate of the party. Instead, the meeting of its legislator party, held here on Saturday, ended on a chaotic note.

Amid open differences, Sujat Hussain was recently elected as the party leader and he was empowered to nominate the Prime Ministerial candidate.

The party, however does not have a leader of national stature.

Meanwhile, alleging that ‘‘spin doctors’’ of the regime were exploiting problems being faced in forming a new government to pave way for imposition of martial law, former Pakistan premier Benazir Bhutto has said the President should withdraw his constitutional amendments to facilitate formation of a stable administration at the Centre.

Addressing a meeting of party leaders in Karachi over phone from Dubai, Bhutto said if President Musharraf was sincere about restoring democracy then he should immediately withdraw his controversial constitutional amendments and put them before Parliament for consideration.

Such a move would not only facilitate formation of a stable government at the Centre, but would also make Parliament strong, the Dawn reported.

The amendments remained big impediments in the way of any understanding with the government-backed Pakistan Muslim league (Q) and other pro-regime parties, she said.

According to PPPP leaders, Musharraf is considering the suggestion to leave the fate of his amendments to the Parliament as none of the major players were in a position to form a government as a result of it.

The Alliance for Restoration of Democracy, which comprises the PPPP, has said that none of its constituents would support a PML-Q government until it withdrew its support to Musharraf’s amendments and his presidency.