Military ruler general Pervez Musharraf was sworn-in as president of Pakistan on Wednesday, an official announcement said. Meanwhile, the national and provincial assemblies have been dissolved.
Musharraf was sworn-in under a new provisional constitutional order, the announcement said. The swearing in ceremony took place at 4.30pm( IST), it said. Musharraf had been sworn in as president of Pakistan by the chief justice of the Supreme Court Justice Irshad Hasan Khan at a ceremony. Under the order, the national and provincial assemblies have been dissolved. President Muhammad Rafiq Tarar has ceased to hold the office of president with immediate effect, the announcement said. While Musharraf is assuming the office of president he will continue to hold the office of chief executive.
The assemblies were suspended when Musharraf toppled the government of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in an October 1999 coup.
According to the Supreme Court ruling Musharraf had promised to hold national elections in October 2002.
This move may now cloak the military ruler in new credibility for his meeting with Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee in India on July 14-16.
Bureau Report