By IANS
Islamabad : Pakistan President Pervez Musharaf has said the country’s deposed judges would not be restored in any circumstances, the media here said Tuesday.
In an interview to The News Musharraf said a situation would not crop up prompting parliament to restore the judges since any change in the present status will require two-thirds support in the legislature.
“A two-thirds majority will be needed to amend the constitution. The incumbent judges are holding their offices in accordance with the constitution,” the president said.
Musharraf said that the presumption of dissolving the next national assembly in case it opts to restore the deposed judges of the superior courts is out of place.
The president’s attention was drawn to the testimony of the US Assistant Secretary of State Richard Boucher in a hearing at Capitol Hill wherein he had stated that Musharraf would dissolve parliament if it tries to restore the deposed judges. This act of the president would be in line with the constitution. The president assured that this stage would never come.
He said the Supreme Court would be attaining its full strength soon with two more judges being inducted shortly.
Musharraf said that the turnout in the upcoming polls was expected to be lower but the government would provide full security to the voters and other people.
“In fact the candidates bring the voters to the polling stations. I am sure they will succeed in their efforts as the elections are hotly contested,” he added.
The president talked to the newspaper Monday evening at a five star hotel where he had come for dinner to a Thai restaurant with his wife Sehba Musharraf and some family members.
The president was wearing a black sweatshirt and a jacket. He was in an upbeat and relaxed mood. He shook hands with the staff of the restaurant and came to the hotel without any protocol or security, The News said.
He parried a question about nuclear scientist A.Q. Khan who has been given some concessions recently.
The president and other guests had Thai delicacies prepared with prawns, fish, beef and chicken.