Musharraf picks spy chief Kiyani as army boss

October 2, 2007

Islamabad, Pakistan - General Pervez Musharraf named Lt. General Ashfaq Pervez Kiani, the head of Pakistan's powerful intelligence agency to succeed him as army chief if he should be re-elected president.

General Pervez Musharraf named Lt. General Ashfaq Pervez Kiani, the head of Pakistan's powerful intelligence agency to succeed him as army chief if he should be re-elected president.

This move comes as opposition parties say his candidacy is illegal and that he has broken previous promises to resign as army chief.

Musharraf's lawyers told the Supreme Court last week that he would stand down as army chief "soon after election and before taking the oath of office as president".

Kiani headed Pakistan's notorious Inter-Services Intelligence agency from 2004 until last month.

He took part in secret talks recently on a possible power sharing deal between President Musharraf and former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto.

Tuesday's appointment came as the current Prime Minister, Shaukat Aziz, met senior cabinet members to discuss the deal, which could see corruption charges against Bhutto dropped.

Opposition lawmakers not impressed

Eighty-five opposition lawmakers tendered their resignations from the parliament Tuesday in an effort to subvert Musharraf's re-election bid for a third term, the state-run Associated Press of Pakistan reported.

Over the weekend, Pakistan's election commission accepted Musharraf's nomination, prompting clashes between police and anti-Musharraf protesters.

National Assembly Speaker Chaudhry Amir Hussain said Tuesday the resignations would not affect the presidential election, according to APP.

Political opponents have been arguing the constitution forbids a military officer from running for president within two years of holding rank. In addition, they said, the constitution calls for an elected official to step down and wait a year before seeking a third term.

Although eligible to run for another term, it was not immediately known whether Musharraf would face restrictions on running as military commander, which the opposition is against.