Search the Internet          Tips

Musharraf to summon national
assembly on November 6

The decisions were taken at a cabinet meeting in Islamabad on Thursday night.

According to the plan approved by the cabinet, the constitution would be restored the day the president and the prime minister were administered oath, local daily Dawn quoted officials as saying.

The officials, however, did not clarify how a new government could take over when there was no consensus among political parties over the formation of an alliance.

Also, the pro-Musharraf Pakistan Muslim League (Quaid-e-Azam), the Pakistan Peoples Party Parliamentarians and the alliance of religious parties, the Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal, had expressed reservations in accepting the amendments to the constitution. The officials did not say what the president intended to do about it.

There were reports that the president was reluctant to convene the national assembly since parties opposed to his constitutional amendments had won a majority of the seats.

Expressing resentment over the inordinate delay, all the major parties held a conference in Islamabad on Tuesday, urging Musharraf to convene the national assembly.

The PML (Q) also signed the declaration. In spite of the government's help, it failed to gain a simple majority in the national assembly, thereby creating problems for its mentors.

Analysts said Musharraf wanted to give more time to the PML (Q) to muster a majority.

According to the election results announced in the second week of October, the PML (Q) won 77 seats, followed by the PPPP with 63 seats, the MMA with 45 seats and the Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz), 14 seats.

Three weeks down the road, the strength of the PML (Q) swelled to 100 with 23 of the 28 independents joining it.

There were reports that Musharraf might revoke the ban on floor-crossing if the ongoing talks for government formation between the PML (Q) and the alliance of religious parties remained fruitless.

The move would pave the way for PPPP, PML (N) and MMA members to leave their parties and join the PML (Q).

The military government had also helped the MMA win seats in the hope of keeping it as a junior and compliant partner of the PML (Q).

MMA leaders were subsequently assured that despite the government being a part of the anti-terrorist alliance, the North West Frontier Province would be at their disposal.

The PML (Q) was entrusted with the task of keeping the MMA engaged. At the same time, it suited the MMA leaders to collaborate with the PML (Q), which could help them consolidate their gains in two provinces bordering Afghanistan and make headway in other provinces.

With inputs from Amir Mir in Islamabad

ALSO READ
Pakistan to remain suspended from Commonwealth
Commonwealth to review Pakistan polls
Parties fail to reach consensus on government formation
MMA abandons hardline stance, promises to be flexible
Commonwealth doubts fairness of Pakistan polls
Religious parties differ on sharing power
ARD demands fresh presidential election in Pakistan
Pakistan government rigged elections: Report
US hails Pak poll results, shrugs off hardliners' victory
Pakistan's parties in desperate search for allies
Pro-Taliban alliance makes major gains in Pakistan election
Musharraf rigged the polls: Benazir, Sharief
Elections may be marked by low turnout: PPP
Three killed in poll violence in Pakistan
Questions of credibility continue to haunt Pakistan polls
Religious parties expect good showing
More Reports from Pakistan

Tell us what you think of this report