December 26, 2007	Wednesday	Zilhaj 15, 1428

LAHORE, Dec 25: The law barring a two-time prime minister from becoming the country’s chief executive for another term is likely to be amended if the Pakistan People’s Party emerges as the largest single party in the elections, sources say.

The president’s consent is mandatory before initiating the removal of the ban — imposed mainly to deny Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif a third term in office — by a simple majority in the two houses of parliament.

Another purpose of the restriction was to bring new leadership to the fore as heads of both the PPP and the PML-N had allegedly failed to deliver during their tenures.

The president will be left with no option but to allow a change in the relevant law if the PPP wins more seats than other parties, the sources say.

However, they said that despite the amendment, the president would not get the right to become the head of state for a third time. They said the Constitution barred the president from being a candidate for a third term and the situation would remain unchanged unless the Constitution was amended by a two-thirds majority.

Political analysts say that the PML-N may ultimately decide to support the PPP to form government after the elections if Ms Bhutto’s party did not win enough seats.

It is said that a PPP government will be more acceptable to the PML-N than one led by the PML-Q.

Ms Bhutto claims that the PPP is the “most popular party” and it will defeat the PML-Q, a party that has ruled for five years.

However, the PML-Q disputes the veracity of the PPP’s claims and describes them as being exaggerated.

President Musharraf, who reviled both the former prime ministers until recently, has changed his opinion about Ms Bhutto.

He recently said that he would have no problem working with anyone who won the election.