ISLAMABAD, Sept 21: The head of the Pakistan Muslim League (PML) Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain said on Wednesday that parliament was the supreme body and only it could sanction a switch over to a presidential system – if it so desired.

In response to reporters’ queries at Punjab House on Wednesday, Mr Hussain said that reports of the federal parliamentary system being turned to a presidential system were untrue. As long as parliament is a sovereign body, he said, it alone will take a decision on the matter.

Asked whether general elections would be held in 2006 as certain reports had suggested, he said “next year would be the season of general elections”.

He dismissed reports that Tariq Aziz, special secretary of the National Security Council and top aide of President General Parvez Musharraf, would take over as the next prime minister. This is because “Mr Aziz is a government servant and government servants, excluding Gen Musharraf, are barred from taking part in politics,” he said.

According to him, only flatterers were advising Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz to take over the post of party president. He told a questioner that he also was advised by the same people not to leave the office of premier.

In reply to a question about reports of change of prime minister, he said “there is no debate going on about bringing in a new prime minister right now”.

The PML president also denied reports that a charge-sheet was being prepared against Mr Aziz.

Mr Hussain said that parliament was a supreme body and the country’s destiny could be changed if all issues were brought before it — as it had all the powers to enforce presidential, monarchical or other systems of government.

He said if President Musharraf had hinted at a presidential system it has gone in upholding the prestige of parliament.

To a query about the long-delayed election of the Senate’s deputy chairman, Mr Hussain said it would be held soon as several names, including a demand from Fata, had emerged.

When quizzed about the opposition’s allegations of rigging in local council polls, he said “no irregularities had occurred in these polls and those who were hurling accusations both from opposition and the government members were doing so because they had failed to succeed”.

Asked about government-opposition reconciliatory talks, he admitted that the negotiations were stalled at the moment as the environment for talks was not congenial.

He said that prime minister has rightly promised to take action against any of the federal ministers found guilty of violation of party discipline and he (Premier Aziz) was fully empowered to do so.

Talking about Lt Gen (Rtd) Majeed Malik’s tussle over the Chakwal district nazim’s slot, he said, “his [Mr Malik’s] case is in the court of law, but everything will be alright once the elections are over.”