 Under the Constitution, General Musharraf cannot continue as president after 2012, Dr Sher Afgan Niazi, parliamentary affairs minister, told Daily Times on Saturday. He said the president could only serve the country for two consecutive terms. The first term of President Musharraf would end in 2007, he added. The parliamentary affairs minister said the General Musharraf could be re-elected after the 2007 general elections for a second consecutive term as president. He said Article 44 of the Constitution restricted a person to contest for a third consecutive term as the countryâs president. The Article 44 (2) says: âAccording to the Constitution, a person holding office as president shall be eligible for re-election, but no person shall hold that office for more than two consecutive terms.â
| Unless they amend the constitution, of course. That's what most dictators do... |
He said how long General Musharraf would continue as president of Pakistan was a matter of debate in political circles. The opposition wants General Musharraf to step down as president after next the general elections.
The parliamentary affairs minister stated there was no restriction on Benazir Bhutto or Nawaz Sharif becoming prime minister again. âThere is no law, including the Political Parties Order (2002), in Pakistan which prevents anyone from becoming prime minister for the third time.â He said the any MNAs could become the countryâs prime minister. âThere is no limit to the number of times a person can become an MNA.
| That hardly seems fair... |
For instance, I have been elected as MNA for four consecutive terms.â
Dr Afgan accused the PPPP and the PML-N of fooling the people into believing that their leaders were not allowed to become prime minister for the third time. |