Date:11/10/2002 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2002/10/11/stories/2002101105431200.htm

International

Musharraf to hand over power to new PM in Nov.

By B. Muralidhar Reddy

ISLAMABAD Oct. 10. As political parties and candidates waited with bated breath for the people's verdict, the Pakistan President, Pervez Musharraf, today set the ball rolling for the formation of the new government by stating that he would hand over executive powers to the new Prime Minister by the first week of November.

The time-frame indicated by Gen. Musharraf is a clear indication that the formation of the new government is expected to take some time.

One would be tempted to interpret Gen. Musharraf's statement that in his assessment, the result could lead to a "hung National Assembly". A hung Assembly would naturally involve negotiations among various parties, perhaps with the Musharraf regime playing a role in the background.

Significantly, hours before the polling began, Gen. Musharraf on Wednesday midnight amended the controversial Legal Framework Order (LFO) under which all the elected independent candidates would have to join a political party of their choice within three days of the announcement of the results.

Talking to reporters after casting his vote at a polling station on Park Road in Rawalpindi Cantonment this afternoon, Gen. Musharraf said his government had worked out everything for the transfer of power. "They will go through the normal legal process after the elections," he said.

In his address to the people of Pakistan on Wednesday night, Gen. Musharraf had announced that he intended to make yet another address to the nation and give a detailed account of his regime's achievements. He had said that a "white paper" would be released.

Gen. Musharraf said that he would accept the verdict of the people as they were the final authority. "Whichever party gets a majority in the Assembly would form the government." He was confident that the system on the ground now would ensure that everything went on smoothly after the formation of the new government. About the continuity of reforms, he said it would be the responsibility of the new Prime Minister. "If the new Prime Minister wants to improve them, he will have the full authority to do so as no reforms are final. However, from Pakistan's development point of view, these reforms and restructuring will continue.''