Musharraf: Civilian president by Saturday

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Source: CCTV.com | 11-22-2007 08:32

Saudi King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz (R) meeting with Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf (L) in Riyadh, 20 November 2007. (AFP/SPA-HO/File)

Pakistan's Attorney General says Pervez Musharraf could quit as the country's army chief and take an oath as a civilian president by Saturday.

Meanwhile, Pakistan's government is seeking a short postponement of the Commonwealth's decision about its membership.

Attorney general Malik Mohammed Qayyum outlined the timetable for Pervez Musharraf's course to his civilian presidency on Wednesday.

Malik Mohammed Qayyum, Pakistani Attorney general, said, "After the decision immediately the president will take oath of office for the second term and he will do that as civilian because before doing it he will give up his uniform and all this entire process shouldn't take more than three, four or five days, by the maximum in the next week it will be all over."

Pakistan's Supreme Court is expected to clear the last legal obstacles to Musharraf's continued rule on Thursday. The Election Commission can then confirm his victory in the disputed presidential election held in October.

Pakistan's Attorney General Malik Qayyum gestures during a news conference in Islamabad November 15, 2007. REUTERS/Faisal Mahmood (PAKISTAN)

Musharraf's resignation from the army will meet a key demand of local and international critics about his imposition of emergency rule.

In a friendly gesture to the country's opposition and the West, Pakistan's government freed more than five thousand political activists and anti-government lawyers on Tuesday.

To stave off diplomatic isolation, Pakistan has asked Britain and other Commonwealth members to delay a decision on whether to suspend the country from the Commonwealth.

Foreign ministers from the 53-nation Commonwealth, meeting in Kampala, Uganda are expected to take up the Pakistan issue Thursday.

Editor:Zhang Pengfei