ISLAMABAD, 18 August — The government has ruled out the installation of a caretaker setup before the general elections slated for October 2002.
The present military government will hold general elections in October 2002 and would hand over power to the next elected leadership a senior official who asked not to be named said.
The opposition grouping, Alliance for the Restoration of Democracy, on Thursday rejected President Musharraf’s announcement of a road map for democracy on the Independence day on Aug. 14 and called for early elections and the establishment of an interim government to hold the elections in a fair and transparent manner.
The official said the present setup would continue to run the affairs of the government till a civilian government is installed after the general elections.
He said there should be two or three amendments to the constitution, including restoration of powers of the president to dissolve the assemblies or the government.
He said the dominance of the president was necessary to maintain a check and balance in the political system.
