ISLAMABAD, Nov 13: The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) has taken exception to General Musharraf‘s statement that he plans to continue as president of Pakistan even after the October 2002 general elections.

“General Musharraf has insulted the right of franchise by ignoring the constitutional requirement of President and referring only to the “legality” of President”, a PPP spokesman said here on Tuesday.

He said General Musharraf was talking of the “legality” of the office of the President because he holds the sword of Damocles over the judiciary‘s head and takes the judiciary for granted. “One signature of his has already decapitated half of the superior judiciary of Pakistan”.

Musharraf told NBC‘s “Meet the Press” on Sunday that he would “remain the President”.

“The claim is absolutely undemocratic and it is surprising that such a claim should have been made at a time when the United Nations was being assured that the country would return to democracy in 2002”.

He said “any attempt to “legalise” himself as President in contravention of the constitutional requirements is unacceptable to the people of Pakistan”