By Muhammad Najeeb
Islamabad, Sep 25 (IANS) Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf will continue as chief of the army staff if he is not elected as president for a second term, a government lawyer said Tuesday.
During the hearing in the Supreme Court of the petitions against Musharraf for keeping both offices, Pakistan Attorney General Malik Muhammad Qayyum told the court that Musharraf will continue if he was not elected for the second term. A nine-member bench headed by Justice Rana Bhagwandas is hearing these petitions.
Last week, Musharraf’s lawyer Sharifuddin Pirzada told the court that Musharraf would quit the army chief’s post after his election from assemblies as president. The Election Commission of Pakistan has scheduled the presidential elections for Oct 6.
So far, 50 individuals have obtained nomination papers for the presidential elections. These include some serving and retired government officials as well. A senior government clerk in Lahore has also obtained the nomination papers. He is at present serving in the Punjab government’s education department.
Earlier at the outset of his arguments, the attorney general said that the Supreme Court cannot hear these petitions as they do not come under its jurisdiction. “These petitions are not based on any violations against human rights,” he said.
One member of the bench, Justice Javed Iqbal, asked the attorney general what would be Musharraf’s act if he loses the presidential elections. “He would continue as army chief,” said Qayyum.
Musharraf came into power in 1999 after overthrowing the elected government of Nawaz Sharif and later installed himself as president of Pakistan.