Govt mulls polls amid security challenges
Staff Report

ISLAMABAD—President General Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz have reaffirmed the government’s commitment of upholding law and order situation through out the country including Swat said that all resources would be utilized for achieving this endeavor and the general elections would not be postponed due to security concerns.
According to sources the President and Prime minister met on Friday and discussed the situation in Swat, next general elections and the under going hearing at the Supreme Court regarding eligibility of President’s candidature for general elections and other matters. With respect to the law and order situation in Swat President Musharraf said that security forces are taking action against miscreants on the request of provincial government and we would not allow promotion of talibnisation. He said that miscreants should lay down their arms and respect the law.
President and PM reaffirmed government’s commitment of holding free, transparent and fair general elections and as scheduled and said that all political parties should play their role in maintaining law and order so that the election process is done peacefully and without any problems. According to source president Musharraf said that no decision has yet been taken on the next prime minister and the political party, which gains majority the PM would be chosen from that party. He added that if PML wins than the PM would be selected after a complete consensus.
With regards to the undergoing hearing at the SC regarding his eligibility to contest the general elections president expressed hope that the SC would give its verdict after thoroughly analyzing the ground realities and the decision of the parliament and would accept any decision of the court.
Other matters of national and political matters were also discussed during the course of the meeting. Crucial constitutional issues loomed large over the meeting of high-powered officials held under the chairmanship of President Gen Pervez Musharraf at Presidential Camp Office Rawalpindi, responsible source says.
Reliable sources told Online that participants exchanged their views over the constitutional matters and discussed the prospective of the forthcoming apex court verdict pertaining to the eligibility of President Musharraf.
Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz, Law Minister Zahid Hamid, Legal advisor of President Sharifuddin Pirzada, Attorney General Malik Qayyum and other close aides participated in the meeting.
Attendants of the meeting also mulled on various options like extension of one-year term of sitting assemblies or formulation of national government. “President Musharraf will not leave the Army post, if the Supreme Court declares him ineligible”, source discloses.
However, legal aides to President presented a detailed briefing about the ongoing hearing of case and expressed for positive turnout. An informed source told that President expressed that the decision of the court would improve overall political situation. Top military authorities and NWFP governor have briefed president general Pervez Musharraf about the operation against the miscreants in Swat.
Sources told Online Friday president Musharraf was in constant contact with NWFP governor Ali Jan Orakzai, chief minister Shams ul Mulik and chiefs of security forces on Swat situation. President was informed by the higher military authorities and NWFP governor about the operation being launched against Maulana Fazlullah who is persistently posing threat to the peace and security situation in the area. He is targeting common man and security personnel.