A politician, known for his close contacts with the military regime, said preparations are under way to install a national government for the interim period to arrange general elections by the end of the three-year period stipulated by the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court had in its ruling asked the government to return to democracy by October 11, 2002. "The interim government would comprise representatives of all regional and national political parties that have opted to stay away from agitation politics," he said on condition of anonymity.

Mian Azher, former Punjab governor and Pakistan Muslim League (PML) turncoat, is among the probable candidates to head the interim set-up, he said. So far the Pakistan Muslim League (PML) has favoured the idea, though some hardliners are opposed to it. The rival Pakistan People's Party (PPP), however, supports fresh elections, even though some leaders favour the restoration of assemblies. A news report in the Nation daily said the possibility of restoration of suspended provincial assemblies was being considered as the first phase of implementation of several options.

Quoting unnamed sources the paper said in case of restoration, provincial assemblies may elect several handpicked ministers to half of the vacated seats of the upper house of the Parliament, the Senate. Both the houses of Parliament could be restored in the next phase, the paper said. It said, "Restoration of the Senate, National Assembly and four provincial legislatures would complete the electoral college for presidential polls, paving the way for election of the chief executive Gen. Pervez Musharraf as the country's new president."

It said, however, before exercising the "restoration option" many legislators facing corruption charges are likely to be unseated and disqualified from holding public office for 21 years each in line with conviction and disqualification of former prime ministers Nawaz Sharif and Benazir Bhutto. Another report in the Dawn daily, quoting unnamed sources, said the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), the Awami National Party (ANP), the Balochistan National Party (BNP), the Jamhoori Watan Party (JWP), the Jamiat Ulema-I-Islam (JUI) and the National People's Party (NPP) had decided to support the restoration of assemblies.

The report said the option to restore the assemblies was considered at meetings between PML leaders Mian Azhar and Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, and Gen Musharraf. A government spokesman, however, said in Islamabad that he was not aware of such plans. "I have also read it (news about Parliament restoration) in newspapers but I don't have any knowledge of it," he said. When asked about General Musharraf's statement on the issue, he said, "Wait and see." PML's response to the restoration of assemblies has been complicated by the election of dissident leader Chaudhry Pervez Elahi as Punjab PML chief. The February 19 PML election has split the former ruling party which had an overwhelming majority in both the houses of Parliament.

(India Abroad News Service)