October 20, 2002	Sunday	Sha'aban 13, 1423

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ISLAMABAD, Oct 19: Federal Law Minister, Khalid Ranjha, said here on Saturday that election of new prime minister may be delayed due to preparations for Senate elections.

Responding to questions at the handing over ceremony of United Bank Limited to the UAE-UK consortium, he said that previously the new prime minister used to be elected in the presence of the Senate. It is now generally thought that the new PM should be elected after the Senate elections, he said.

The absence of Senate, which was dissolved in October, 1999, has been creating some constitutional problems in the election of the new prime minister due to which it might be delayed.

In response to another query, the minister said that the first session of the new parliament was due to be summoned in the first week of next month but it may be delayed in view of the upcoming Senate elections.

Asked why politicians object to take oath under Legal Framework Order, the minister said that it was part of the 1973 Constitution and elections were held under it. He said that since the elections were held under LFO so the politicians would have to take oath under LFO.