Pakistan enacts law allowing Musharraf to remain army chief
AFP, Islamabad
Pakistan's acting president Muhammadmian Soomro yesterday enacted a controversial law allowing President Pervez Musharraf to remain chief of the powerful army, Information Minister Sheikh Rashid said. "President Musharraf will now keep both the offices," Rashid told AFP. The bill was signed by senate chairman Soomro in the absence of Musharraf, who is visiting Latin America as part of a six-nation tour. "The bill has been signed by acting president Muhammadmian Soomro," Rashid said. Tuesday was the deadline for presidential approval of the bill, falling just within the 30-day mark since the senate gave its backing. The bill was endorsed by the government-dominated senate amid opposition protests on November 1. Less than a year ago General Musharraf pledged on national television to shed his uniform, saying it was undemocratic to lead both the government and the army. Opposition parties have launched a nationwide protest campaign against Musharraf to force him to quit as army chief. Musharraf seized power after toppling prime minister Nawaz Sharif in a bloodless army coup in October 1999. He appointed himself president in June 2001 and won a heavily criticised referendum in May 2002 followed by a parliamentary vote of confidence last December.
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