ISLAMABAD, Feb 3: The Pakistan Bar Council (PBC) on Saturday declared attempts to seek re-election of Gen Pervez Musharraf from the outgoing assemblies for the second term as illegal, unconstitutional and offensive to the rights of the people of Pakistan.

The PBC called for provision of level-playing field to all political parties during the upcoming general elections, which it believed, was possible only if former prime ministers Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif returned home to participate in the elections.

Being an apex body of lawyers, the council also demanded that a national government of consensus should be formed to ensure free and fair elections.

The 162nd meeting of the council was held here at the Supreme Court Building during which five resolutions were adopted condemning President Musharraf’s re-election efforts, appointments of retired army officers in lucrative offices, provision of level-playing field to all political parties, military operations in Balochistan, Waziristan and Wanna and criticising voters list.

PBC vice-chairman Ali Ahmed Kurd, a well known lawyer from Quetta, presided over the meeting.

On the cabinet’s decision and the stance of the ruling coalition to seek re-election of President Musharraf for another five-year term from the existing assemblies, the council highlighted that the assembly which itself was elected for five years could not re-elect the president for more than its own term by usurping the right of the incoming assemblies.

Usurping power through a coup in October 1999 by suspending the Constitution was an act of "high treason," the resolution alleged adding Gen Musharraf in uniform was disqualified to contest election under Article 63(k) of the Constitution.

Even otherwise the president could not hold office for more than two consecutive terms under Article 44 (2) of the Constitution.

In a separate resolution, the council urged permission to both Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif, the party heads of PPP and PML-N, to return Pakistan and convass for their respective parties during the general elections.

When Gen Musharraf presides over the meetings of the ruling PML and publicly convasses for the party, the leaders of both the PPP and the PML-N stand exiled, the resolution deplored.

The council also demanded that Chief Election Commissioner Justice (retd) Qazi Mohammad Farooq should exercise his constitutional authority and ensure that all leaders of the political parties should lead respective election campaigns within the country. "It is only then that the right of the people to govern would be restored," the resolution emphasized.