ISLAMABAD, Jan 17: The federal cabinet decided on Wednesday that the present assemblies would re-elect President Pervez Musharraf between Sept 15 and Oct 15 this year for a new term. The decision was reached after consultations with constitutional experts.

The cabinet also decided that the assemblies would complete their tenure on November 16, after which general elections would be held in accordance with constitutional provisions.

The cabinet approved various proposals, including an increase in the civil services quota for Balochistan and introduction of prevention of electronic crimes bill.

Sources said the re-election issue had been discussed by President Pervez Musharraf with members of the cabinet at a prime minister’s dinner on Friday, and the decision was a forgone conclusion because under article 41(1), president’s tenure would expire on November 15 and his re-election was required 30 days before that, i.e. October 15.

Briefing newsmen after the cabinet meeting, Information Minister Mohammad Ali Durrani said: “Hopefully, the present assemblies will complete their tenure and since the tenure of the president expires on November 15, his re-election will be sought from the present assemblies in accordance with the constitutional provisions.”

The cabinet meeting presided over by Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz was briefed on constitutional and legal aspects of the presidential elections by a team of constitutional experts led by prime minister’s Senior Adviser Sharifuddin Pirzada.

Federal ministers and ministers of state belonging to the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) did not attend the cabinet meeting which sparked speculations of another conflict between the government and the MQM.

When contacted Minister for Ports and Shipping Babar Khan Ghauri said: "It was purely a coincidence that all the ministers belonging to his party were busy, attending the marriage of party leader Adil Siddiqui’s sons till late last night."

Mr Durrani also attributed MQM ministers’ absence to the marriage of Adil Siddiqui’s sons in Karachi.

In a significant move, the cabinet decided to enhance civil services quota for Balochistan to six per cent from the present 3.5 per cent. The cabinet decided to review other regions’ and provinces’ quotas in the next cabinet meeting.

It approved a proposal to start negotiations on a draft agreement between Pakistan and the United Kingdom on combating terrorism and organised crimes while ensuring the principle of reciprocity in cooperation with other states on exchange of information and related matters to counter terrorism.

The cabinet also ratified the charter of the Asian disaster preparedness centre which would provide assistance to Asian and Pacific countries in developing policies and capabilities to mitigate the impact of disasters as well as promotion of disaster awareness, collaboration and exchange of experiences and lessons learnt in disasters.

The proposed prevention of electronic-related crime bill 2006 submitted by the ministry of information technology was also considered and approved. The cabinet, however, decided to set up a committee headed by Sharifuddin Pirzada to look into the implantation mechanism and other legal aspects contained in the bill and to submit its report within 30 days.

An amendment proposed by the ministry of finance to the Foreign Exchange Regulation Act, 1947 was approved.

The bill will empower the State Bank of Pakistan to take immediate action against any person, exchange company, firm and corporation or company contravening any provisions of the act.

The cabinet also considered a report for review of the Zakat and Baitul Mal system and directed the ministry of religious affairs and the cabinet committee to further review the conceptual aspect of the system.

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