Musharraf Assuming Office of President of PakistanMuhammad Rafiq Tarar has ceased to hold office of the President of Pakistan with immediate effect, while General Pervez Musharraf is assuming the office of the President, according to an official statement on Wednesday.Musharraf will take oath here Wednesday evening as President of Pakistan. Chief Justice of the Supreme Court Justice Irshad Hasan Khan will administer the oath of his new office. Musharraf, after becoming the new president, will also keep his office of Chief of Army Staff. This political change follows the promulgation of an amendment to the Provisional Constitutional Order (PCO). It will strengthen his position as equal in terms of civilian and constitutional authority in advance of his July 14 summit with Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee. Former President Rafiq Tarrar has ceased to hold his post and the country's suspended parliament has been formally dissolved. Musharraf has been performing duties as the Chief Executive of Pakistan since the October 12 military coup in 1999. |
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