July 13, 2006	Thursday	Jumadi-ul-Sani 16, 1427

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LAHORE, July 12: PPP leader MNA Aitzaz Ahsan has said that the present assemblies can elect the president next year but Gen Musharraf would not be eligible to contest.

Answering a question during a news conference at the Lahore Press Club here on Wednesday, he said election of the president was due between Sept 15 and Oct 15 next year.

He said the present assemblies would be bound to elect the president in case of their existence, but Gen Musharraf would not be eligible to contest even if he retired from military service because of the constitutional bar on government servants to contest polls within two years after the date of retirement.

An amendment to the Constitution would be required to make the general eligible for election as president within two years after retirement with the support of two-third members of the parliament, which the government did not have.

Aitzaz Ahsan, Haji Ayaz Ahmed, Eco Watch Trsut chairman Muhammad Imran, president Jehanzaib Nazir Malik, vice-chairman Salman Shariq Butt and secretary Imran Ahmed Bhatti appreciated an allocation of Rs577 million for the construction of sewerage on both sides of the canal for checking disposal of sewage in it in compliance with directions of the Punjab Environment Tribunal. —Reporter