By Muhammad Najeeb, IANS
Islamabad : Senate chairperson Mohammedmian Soomro Friday took oath as Pakistan’s caretaker prime minister, a step President Pervez Musharraf described as a “big step to democracy”.
In an ironic twist, a day after the National Assembly completed its five-year term, Musharraf administered the oath of office to Soomro under the constitution that is technically in abeyance since the declaration of emergency Nov 3.
“This is a historic moment and a big step towards democracy,” Musharraf declared after the ceremony at the presidency with only members of the outgoing cabinet and incoming caretaker set-up present.
The ceremony was attended by former prime minister Shaukat Aziz, his ministerial colleagues, speaker of the National Assembly Chaudhry Amir Hussain, governors and provincial chief ministers, services chiefs, senators, federal secretaries, political leaders, diplomats and high civil and military officials.
Soomro, chairperson of the upper house of the parliament, is considered to be Musharraf’s trusted man and has been chief of the National Bank of Pakistan and governor of Sindh.
Musharraf said he was working for democracy and to strengthen the country.
“I hope this cabinet will work for continuity of what the outgoing government did,” Musharraf said.
The caretaker set-up is required under the constitution and the Election Commission is now bound to hold the general elections within 60 days — that end Jan 15. However, Musharraf has asked the commission to hold elections before Jan 9.
“This is for the first time in the country’s history that the National Assembly has completed its tenure. No other assembly in the past was able to complete its full term,” Musharraf said, taking the credit for completion of the National Assembly that is generally referred to as a rubber stamp in the presence of a president who is also chief of army staff.
Musharraf is under tremendous pressure from the international community and the opposition led by former prime minister Benazir Bhutto to doff his military uniform.
US Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte is due in Islamabad Friday and would go directly into talks with Musharraf. Before leaving for Pakistan, he said his talks would be on restoration of complete democracy in the country.