‘Law doesn’t bar Musharraf from heading political party’

ISLAMABAD: The law does not restrict President General Pervez Musharraf to head a political party, Dr Sher Afgan Niazi, the parliamentary affairs minister, said on Tuesday.

Talking to Daily Times at his parliament chamber, Afgan said the law permitted the president if he wanted to head the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) headed by Rao Sikander and Aftab Sherpao. Last month, a senior leader of the pro-Musharraf PPP had requested the general to take over the party as its head. However, there was no reaction from Musharraf.

Afgan said that restriction on holding party and public offices simultaneously had already been withdrawn from the Political Parties Order of 2002. He said Article 41 (b) overwrote all other articles, which restricted General Musharraf to become the president of Pakistan. “And there is no restriction on head of the state to become the head of a political party,” he said.

Asked whether the Army Act or any other law restricts Musharraf to become head of the PPP or any other party, the minister said there was nothing in the law that could prevent him doing so. Currently, Rao Sikander Iqbal is chairman and Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao is president of the PPP. staff report

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