‘Musharraf will stay in uniform if assemblies dissolve before his re-election’

Islamabad, Sep 21: Pakistan’s Railways Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed has said that President Pervez Musharraf would be in uniform if the present assemblies are dissolved prior to his re-election.

If elected by the present assemblies, Musharraf would doff his uniform before taking oath of office for a new term, Rashid told a TV channel.

Musharraf would file his nomination papers after consultation with the Pakistan Muslim League (Qaumi) leadership, Rashid added.

Musharraf would contest the election in uniform, but fulfil the commitment he had made in the Supreme Court, he added.

Rashid said the country was passing through a crucial phase and stakeholders are expected to behave positively.

When reminded that Musharraf had not fulfilled his commitment to doff his uniform in the past, Rashid said, "I believe things are now moving in the right direction, and Musharraf would relinquish his post of Army Chief."

He said that it would be merely an act of face saving if the PPP-P members abstained from the Parliament during the presidential election.

The opposition’s resignation from assemblies would have no impact on the presidential election if the PPP-P do not join them, the Daily Times quoted Rashid, as saying.

If the PPP-P members also resign from Parliament then there would be a question about the credibility of election," Rashid said. (With inputs from ANI)

Political Reviews: