Opp threatens to quit to foil Musharraf re-election bid

As Pervez Musharraf confirmed his plans to get re-elected, some opposition parties in the country have threatened to quit en-bloc from the legislature to foil his plans.

As Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf confirmed his plans to get re-elected, some opposition parties in the country have threatened to quit en-bloc from the legislature to foil his plans.

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Lawmakers of opposition parties will resign en-bloc from parliament if Musharraf goes ahead with his plan to get himself re-elected from the present assemblies, Information Secretary of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif-led Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N) Ahsan Iqbal said.

Reacting to Musharraf's comments made during his current foreign tour that he would seek re-election from the present assemblies, he said this showed that Musharraf was afraid of fair and free elections and wanted to hang on to power at all cost, he said.

Musharraf currently visiting Bosnia Herzegovina said he would re-election before the dissolution of the assemblies and it is for the people of Pakistan to get him elected.

As per constitution, the President is elected by the National and four provincial assemblies.

Musharraf who "elected" in a controversial referendum in 2002 was "re-elected" by the assemblies after the 2003 general elections.

The term of the same assemblies is due to end by November 14 this year and Musharraf wants to play safe by getting re-elected for another five-year term by the same assemblies and then hold general elections and may again get endorsed by the new assemblies if favourable conditions prevailed.