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Musharraf to remain President till November 15: Court told

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Islamabad , Sept 6, IRNA
Pakistan-Court
The Supreme Court of Pakistan was told on Thursday that General Pervez Musharraf's term as President will expire on November 15.

Syed Sharifuddin Pirzada, Counsel for President Musharraf, provided information to the apex court a day after he was asked as to when General Musharraf's term as President expires.

Pirzada, in a written statement, told the court that General Musharraf will remain President till November 15.

He also informed the Supreme Court that General Musharraf will also remain in uniform after November 15 till a new Army Chief is appointed to replace him.

A seven-member bench of the Supreme Court, headed by Chief Justice ftikhar Muhammad Chaudhary, is hearing a petition from Jamaat-e-Islami, challenging an act of parliament that allows General Musharraf to hold two offices of the President and the Army Chief.

The parliament had passed 'President to hold another office Act 2004', under which President Musharraf was allowed to hold two offices.

The Chief Justice asked the government lawyers on Wednesday to tell the court about the date when General Musharraf's term as President will expire.

Counsel for Jamaat-e-Islami, Akram Sheikh objected at the reply from the President's counsel and said that no reply has been submitted from the Federation, another respondent in the case.

On this occasion Attorney General, Malik Muhammad Qayyum, told the court that he represents the Federation but needs one month to submit a reply on the question as to when term of General Musharraf as President expires.

The Chief Justice did not accept his plea from the Attorney general and that he can only be given one week time for reply.

Then the Attorney General asked the court he needs 15 minutes to receive directives from the concerned authorities.

The lawyer for Jamaat-e-Islami argued that the Act of parliament 2004 to allow General Musharraf to hold two offices be declared as mala-fide and unconstitutional.

He said the President's holding another office is even ultra vires of the Constitution.

He argued that the office of the President is vacant and President Musharraf is only a defacto holder as he is not an elected President.

2020/235/1420