MIANWALI, Oct 30: Federal Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Dr Sher Afgan Niazi has said a caretaker government will be put in place in Nov 2007. Speaking at a press conference here on Monday, he said President Pervez Musharraf would be re-elected as president some time in Sept or Oct 2007. He added that the president would retain his post of army chief.

The federal minister argued that under Article 41(4) of the constitution a president could stand for his second term before the completion of his first term.

He praised the president for not dissolving the assemblies whose many sessions had been marred by noisy protests. He said the president kept his word and ensured that the assemblies completed their constitutional tenure.

Dr Niazi said the women protection bill – as approved by the select committee – would be passed by the National Assembly in its forthcoming session.

— Agencies