Islamabad: Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf plans to take fresh oath of office for a five year term on October 31, even as the process of government formation has been delayed following a stay order of Lahore High Court restraining the Election Commission from finalising the list of reserved seats for women and minorities in October 10 polls.

The Law Minister of Punjab Province-Rana Ejaz said Musharraf would announce the restoration of the 1973 Constitution on October 31 and take oath of office for five years.

He, however, said that the "1973 Constitutional rule" would include all the controversial amendments introduced by Musharraf.

After taking the oath, Musharraf would call the session of the newly elected national Assembly to elect the Speaker, Deputy Speaker and the Prime Minister in the first week of November, local news agency NNI quoted Ejaz as saying.

Barring the pro-Musharraf Pakistan Muslim League (PML-Q) all other political parties including the religious Muthahida Majilis-e-Amal have said their elected representatives would take oath only by the 1973 Constitution, without Musharraf's amendments.

Ejaz, however, argued that Musharraf's Legal Framework Order (LFO) incorporating the amendments has become part of the 1973 Constitution, under which new members would have to take oath.

In order to reverse the amendments, the only way out would be for the newly elected members to vote out the LFO with one-third majority and then impeach Musharraf, he said.

He, however, quipped that "these people (political parties) should first succeed in power-sharing, then show one-third majority and then vote against the LFO or could try to impeach the President."

PTI