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Musharraf planning to hijack mandate: Sharif

Opposition pledges not to allow President's re-election

Islamabad: Determined to oppose Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf's move to get himself re-elected in military uniform, exiled former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has said it is an attempt to ``hijack the people's mandate to prolong dictatorship''.

Mr. Sharif, who was ousted by Gen. Musharraf as Prime Minister in a bloodless coup in 1999, said the issue would be put on the all-party conference agenda in London in order to devise measures against it.

``The re-election plan is meant for hijacking the people's mandate in the coming elections for the continuity of dictatorship,'' Mr. Sharif was quoted today by The Nation daily as saying.

Stating that Gen. Musharraf ``had no legal, constitutional or moral status'' to continue in the post, Mr. Sharif said the person who could use force against the elected government for his ulterior motives could not be of any good to the nation.

Unruly scenes in Senate

He said with Gen. Musharraf having put all Government institutions under his control, no caretaker Government or Election Commission under him could ensure a free and fair election.

The ``rulers'' were insulting the masses by declaring they would not let the popular leadership to return to the country as Gen. Musharraf would be exposed as soon as they returned, Mr. Sharif was quoted by the daily as saying.

The upper House in Pakistan's Parliament — the Senate — witnessed unruly scenes on Thursday, when Opposition members vehemently opposed the idea mooted by the Federal Cabinet of getting Gen. Musharraf re-elected for another term by the existing Provincial Assemblies.

Cabinet criticised

The Opposition members questioned the Cabinet's authority to make decisions on the President's election, and vowed to resist if the Government tried to re-elect Gen. Musharraf through the current Assemblies.

Raising the issue through a point of order in the Senate, Leader of Opposition Mian Raza Rabbani said the move, if it took place, would result in mass resignations.

``The Opposition will resist any such move inside and outside Parliament. Our option of tendering en bloc resignations is still open,'' the Daily Times quoted Mr. Rabbani as saying.

Pakistan People's Party members Babar Awan and Safdar Abassi and MMA leader Khurshid Ahmed backed Mr. Rabbani's point of order.

Harsh words were also exchanged between Mr. Abbasi and State Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Kamil Ali Aga. — PTI, ANI

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