ISLAMABAD, May 17: President Gen Pervez Musharraf has said that under the constitution existing assemblies are mandated to elect him for the second term.

“There is no ambiguity in Constitution in this context. But people debating the issue of president’s election are unaware of the constitution,” President Musharraf said in a brief interview with AVT Khyber late on Wednesday.

He said that existing assemblies, and not the new assemblies, would “elect president for the second term”. He also said that at least one month and up to two months prior to the end of his tenure, elections would be held for the second term while his present tenure would end on November 15, 2007.

According to constitutional provisions, the election for president would be held any time from September 15 to October 15 next year, he added.

In the interview, the president also expressed his views on national politics, Pakistan-Afghan relations, war against terrorism and the situation in Fata and Balochistan.

“I believe in the supremacy of parliament and stability of democratic institutions.” And completion of constitutionally five-year mandated tenure by the existing assemblies, he said, would prove that he stood for democracy.

He reiterated his determination to eradicate terrorism from Fata and said that terrorists active in the tribal belt were causing immense harm to the nation and country.—Online