Army man tipped to become PoK President

By B. Muralidhar Reddy

ISLAMABAD, JULY 29. Strange things are happening in Pak occupied Kashmir after the recent elections to the PoK Assembly. There is evidence to suggest that the military regime in Islamabad is taking keen interest not only in formation of the government in Muzaffarabad, but also who would be the PoK President.

Almost all the major newspapers in Pakistan have reported that the Musharraf Government ensured that Sardar Qayyum, former President and Prime Minister of PoK, did not end up as the Prime Minister of PoK.

The subject attracted attention of the media as Sardar Qayyum was credited with the resounding victory registered by his party - Muslim Conference - in the recent general elections.

The `choice' of the military government in Pakistan for the coveted post in Muzaffarabad was Sardar Sikandar Hayat Khan. Now it appears that the Musharraf Government wants to `prevent' Sardar Qayyum from becoming the President of PoK.

The prestigious Pakistani English daily, Dawn, in a report today has claimed that Pakistan's military regime has decided to `nominate' a high-ranking General, due to retire shortly from service, for the post.

It said Maj. Gen. Mohammad Anwar Khan, currently serving as the Vice Chief of General Staff at the Pakistan Army's General Headquarters in Rawalpindi is tipped to become the PoK President.

As for the misgivings of the Musharraf Government towards the candidature of Sardar Qayyum first for the post of the PM and now President, there is more than one theory in circulation.

The stance of Sardar Qayyum on the Ramazan initiative of the Indian Prime Minister, Mr. Atal Behari Vajpayee, and his umpteen statements in the last few months praising Mr. Vajpayee as the `tallest statesman of the sub-continent' have not gone down well with a section of the military establishment in Pakistan.

The newspaper report quoting sources has said that Gen. Anwar, a member of the powerful Sudhan tribe, is a resident of Tain village in Poonch district in POK. It said he could be retired within 24 hours and made the ruling Muslim Conference's candidate for the office of POK President. The nomination papers for the Presidential polls are to be filed on July 31 and the polling will be held on Aug. 1.

The electoral college comprises the 48-member strong POK Assembly, six-member POK Council and the Federal minister in charge of the POK Council. In order to pave the way for Gen. Khan's candidature, the newly elected POK Government has already amended the rule stipulating that no Government servant could contest or hold public office until completion of two years before his retirement. The rule was amended through a ordinance yesterday, the report said.

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Section  : International
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