Musharraf's election issue discussed

The Cabinet in its meeting on Wednesday, presided over by Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz, discussed the tenure of President Pervez Musharraf and sitting National and Provincial Assemblies with special reference to Presidential elections expected to be held in October.
Information Minister Muhammad Ali Durrani told journalists that Prime Minister's Advisor on Foreign Affairs, Law, Justice and Human Rights, Syed Sharif-ud-Din Pirzada, had briefed the Cabinet about the constitutional position of the President's tenure, which would expire in September, or October, while the tenure of the sitting assemblies would come to an end on November 16.
Journalists fired a volley of questions to Information Minister asking him that since the tenure of President would expire some time in September, or October, whether the sitting assemblies would re-elect Pervez Musharraf as President. But he did not reply clearly, and laughed and said, "I have said what I had to say, and you know what you say."
However, the Minister gave the impression that probably the sitting assemblies would re-elect Musharraf as President. He also clarified that caretaker set-up would come after November 16, which would hold the general elections.
Durrani said that the Cabinet also discussed political situation in detail and expressed its satisfaction over interactions between the government and political parties, which the government had on different occasions. "The Cabinet discussed the country's political situation, and the Prime Minister briefed it about interactions with opposition parties," he said.
In reply to a question, he said that the ruling coalition would field joint candidates in the general elections, and added that the government would seek votes on the basis of performance. "We are very clear that the current assemblies would complete their tenure, and would continue to serve the masses, as they did in the past," he added.
He said the Cabinet discussed the current visit of the Indian Foreign Minister, and the India-Pak relations and vowed to continue the dialogue process to improve relations including the resolution of the core issue of Kashmir dispute.
In reply to another question, Durrani said that Pakistan is considering different initiatives, including fencing the Pak-Afghan border, to stop movement of terrorists.
Answering a question regarding the statement of CIA Director Negroponte, in which he said that terrorists were being gathered in Pakistan Tribal areas, the Information Minister did not agree with the statement, saying that Pakistan was taking positive steps just to stop terrorists and not to appease anybody. He said that Prime Minister also briefed the Cabinet about his visit to Kabul, and the issues discussed between him and Afghan President Hamid Karzai.