The Hindu : International : Debate on Musharraf's continuation as Army chief

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Oct 14, 2004

International

International

Debate on Musharraf's continuation as Army chief

ISLAMABAD, OCT. 13 . Amid protests from Opposition parties, Pakistan's National Assembly today began a debate on a bill to authorise the Pakistan President, Pervez Musharraf, to hold the office of both President and Chief of Army beyond this year.

The Opposition parties, especially the members of the Islamist alliance Muthahida Majlis Amal (MMA) protested to the Speaker, Amir Hussain, when the Bill was permitted for discussion. While the members of the Alliance for Restoration of Democracy (ARD) raised slogans such as "Go Musharraf Go" and "Go lotas (sycophants) Go," the MMA members who last year bailed out the Government by voting for Gen. Musharraf's constitutional amendments rushed into the well of the House. They returned to their seats after the ARD members persuaded them to do so. The Bill is essentially aimed at nullifying legal clauses in the 17 Constitutional Amendment passed last year by Parliament which stipulated that the President will not hold any other office after December 2004. Consequent to the passage of amendment with the help of the MMA, Gen. Musharraf had also announced over state TV that he would do so by Dec 2004.

PTI

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