Interim govt soon, no role for army: Aziz

An interim government will be formed in Pakistan after the National Assembly completes its term on November 15...

An interim government will be formed in Pakistan after the National Assembly completes its term on November 15 to conduct a free and impartial general election, Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz said on Sunday while ruling out any political role for the Army Chief.

“The President, Prime Minister and army chief would continue to discharge their constitutional responsibilities,” Aziz told reporters at the Prime Minister’s House after a meeting with PML-Q president Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain and some ministers. “After the assemblies complete their tenure on November 15, an interim set up will be put in place primarily to conduct fair-and-free elections, which we hope to win emphatically,” he said

In response to a question on the role to be played by the chief of army staff, a post currently held by President Pervez Musharraf, Aziz said he was sure the army chief “would not indulge in political activities”.

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Musharraf has informed the Supreme Court he will quit as army chief following his re-election as President. The military ruler swept Saturday’s presidential poll that was boycotted by the Opposition. However, he cannot be sworn in till the apex court rules on petitions challenging his candidature.

The tenure of the two houses of Parliament and the four provincial assemblies of Punjab, Sindh, Balochistan and NWFP ends on November 15 and a general election will be held within two months.

Aziz said the government considered Musharraf elected as president and was now awaiting the Supreme Court’s judgment on the issue.

Aziz said the National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO), promulgated on the eve of the Presidential poll, was notsingle party specific and its major objective is to eliminate the root causes of corruption. The NRO allows the withdrawal of graft cases against those holding public offices from January 1, 1986 to October 12, 1999 and is seen as a move to facilitate the return of Pakistan People’s Party leader Benazir Bhutto, who was facing several such cases, from self-exile.

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Aziz told reporters that the NRO will put an end to vindictiveness in the politics. “The ordinance relates to the governments before us and is not specifically for one single party,” he said and added, “our government will never encourage corruption.”

He expressed satisfaction that Pakistan’s rating in the latest report by Transparency International has improved andhoped that it will further enhance. He ruled out any alliance with PPP saying the government is in contact with all the political parties for national reconciliation.

The Prime Minister said that President Musharraf’s majority vote is a big achievement for Pakistan viz-a-viz thecontinuation of the present economic policies, which are leading Pakistan to prosperity.