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| Sunday, 17 November 2002 |
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Pakistan's Musharraf sworn in for new five-year term ISLAMABAD, Nov 16 (Reuters) - Pakistan's military ruler, General Pervez Musharraf, was sworn in for a new five-year term as president on Saturday, shortly before the country's parliament was due to meet for the first time in three years. Musharraf, a key ally in the U.S.-led war on terror, suspended the constitution after he overthrew elected prime minister Nawaz Sharif in a bloodless coup in October 1999. He has since revived it with changes that give the president more power, including the right to dismiss parliament. A 342-member assembly elected in October 10 polls is due to convene on Saturday, even though rival parties have yet to agree on a coalition government. The parties are split over who should lead a new government and constitutional changes Musharraf introduced ahead of the polls to ensure military dominance over a new assembly. Musharraf secured his fresh term through an April referendum analysts say was heavily rigged in his favour. The general election was similarly controversial since key figures, including Sharif and another former prime minister Benazir Bhutto, were barred from standing. The pro-military Pakistan Muslim League secured most seats -- 118 -- but not enough to rule alone. It has been trying to form a coalition with an alliance of six right-wing Islamic parties that fought on a strong anti-U.S. platform. |
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