SARGODHA, July 16: The general elections will be held in November 2007 under the supervision of an independent, autonomous and impartial election commission and completed by the middle of January 2008.

This was observed by Dr Sher Afgan, the federal minister for parliamentary affairs, while speaking at a function arranged by a human rights committee.

He said Gen Pervez Musharraf would contest the election in uniform and he would be elected for the next term. A caretaker government would be set up in the centre as well in all four provinces which would ensure free and fair general elections, he said.

While the opposition should show its power in parliament instead of launching bogus media propaganda, he said, adding the people were aware of the fact that Pakistan had an honourable status in the international community and wanted to see the president in uniform as parliament had approved his dual office.

Dr Afgan said the charter of democracy belonged to a corrupt ex-serviceman and two exiled prime ministers had planned to befool the nation. He said the 1973 Constitution had been amended many times and even its founder, the late Zulfikar Ali Bhutto brought various amendments and preferred the presidential form of government.

The government, he said, had taken practical step to give women their due representation in parliament.

About the power-supply issue, he said it was more so because of excessive use of electricity in tubewells and air-conditioners. However, he said, the construction of more hydroelectric power generation units was the need of the hour.

RELEASED: In pursuance of the presidential ordinance, 20 women involved in Hudood, narcotics and theft cases have been released after completion of formalities from the district jail.

Earlier, only seven of the 32 women were released from the district jail a few days ago.