President not bound to quit Army post: Afghan

ISLAMABAD—Federal Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, Dr. Sher Afghan Khan Niazi has said that after the imposition of Emergency, President Musharraf is now not bound to quit his post as Army Chief before November 15.
Talking to Online on Friday, Federal Minister said that President Musharraf can retain the post of Army Chief for five years but he would doff his uniform after the verdict of the Supreme Court on the case challenging his candidature for the post of the President according to the pledge he made.
The Minister said that after doffing his uniform, President would take the oath as the President of the country for the second term according to the constitution of 1973.
The Minister however said that after issuing of notification of Presidential Election from Election Commission, the President would restore the constitution and be lifted the emergency but even the President can not give the time-frame in this regard.
Dr. Sher Afghan Khan Niazi said that the electoral process would start from January 11 and will be completed till February 15 and the elections of National and Provincial Assemblies would be held on the same day.
The elections would not be held under PCO or emergency, he stressed. The Federal Minister said that it has been decided to extend the period of elections due to Hajj, Eid-ul-Azha and Muharram, however this period would not be more than one month, he added.
He said that the elections would be held within 60 days and we have completed our homework in this regard, adding that if the electoral process is started from January 11 then can be completed before February 15.
The Minister said that the Parliament and the Provincial Assemblies would be functioning as normal after the imposition of PCO and no new PCO is needed for extending their term, however, the President would issue new order in order to dissolve the assemblies.—Online