President’s fresh advice to legal team

Published September 18, 2007

ISLAMABAD, Sept 17: President Gen Pervez Musharraf on Monday gave fresh instructions to his legal team on the issue of his two offices currently being heard by the Supreme Court.

The president was earlier briefed on the day’s proceedings in the court by the team comprising Syed Sharifuddin Pirzada, Attorney-General Malik Mohammad Qayyum, Law Minister Zahid Hamid and President’s Chief of Staff Lt-Gen (retd) Hamid Javed.

It is learnt that the president sought their views on Article 63 of the Constitution about qualifications for a presidential candidate.

“The president asked us about today’s (court) proceedings. We gave him the details and listened to his advice,” Attorney-General Malik Mohammad Qayyum said.

About the schedule for the presidential election, he said: “If you ask me I would say that it should be issued today, or any time soon,” the attorney-general said.

According to the sources, observations made by a Supreme Court judge on amendments announced by the Election Commission to the rules of presidential election also figured in the meeting which continued for about one hour.