Islamabad, Dec 31: General Pervez Musharraf today approved a law under which he will remain Pakistan's president until 2007 and prepared to seek an endorsement of his presidency by parliament tomorrow, three days ahead of the Saarc summit. He also appointed Supreme Court judge, Justice Nazim Hussain Siddiqui, as the new Chief Justice of Pakistan, paving the way for the immediate retirement of incumbent Sheikh Riaz Ahmad, who had sworn-in Musharraf as President following his election in a controversial referendum rejected by the opposition. Siddiqui would tomorrow take charge from Ahmad, whose services had been extended after he retired.
Under the 17th Constututional Amendment bill ratified by senate and national assembly, Musharraf will quit as the chief of army by December 2004 and seek a vote of confidence from two houses of parliament and four provincial assemblies.
After signing the bill, Musharraf described it as a "historic" event and said the resultant checks and balances would impart permanence to the democratic system and parliament would complete its tenure of five years.
"Nobody is permanent, only Pakistan is permanent, this system is for Pakistan and for stability of democracy. I am sure there will be political stability and the parliament will complete its tenure of five years," he told members of the national assembly belonging to PML and its allied parties.
Bureau Report