November 30, 2007	Friday	Ziqa’ad 19, 1428

ISLAMABAD, Nov 29: The Pakistan Muslim League (N) said on Thursday that Gen (retd) Pervez Musharraf had taken the oath as a ‘civilian martial law administrator’ and not president.

PML(N) information secretary Ahsan Iqbal said in a statement that because Gen (retd) Musharraf had already transferred special emergency powers of the army chief to the president, he had taken the oath as a ‘civilian martial law administrator’.Mr Iqbal said that after the imposition of emergency on Nov 3, the main issue was restoration of the rule of law and independence of judiciary. He said that at present the Constitution was under suspension and Mr Musharraf had got himself elected from an electoral college which did not exist at the time he took the oath as president. This showed his mala fide intention behind getting himself elected from assemblies, just days before their demise, he added. According to the Constitution, he said, only new parliament could elect a president for a new term.

“The core issue of Pakistan’s politics is whether the judiciary will be restored to pre-Nov 3 position or not,” Mr Iqbal said, adding that his party would never compromise on this point and continue its struggle along with lawyers, civil society and democratic forces. He, however, said the appointment of a full-time army chief was a step which should lead towards de-politicisation of the army.