Islamabad: As the stalemate over the formation of a coalition government by pro and anti-Musharraf political parties continued, the military regime has finalised plans to transfer power to newly elected political leaders during the first week of November.

President Pervez Musharraf gave approval to the transfer of power plan during a high- level meeting in Islamabad on October 25, Pakistan news agency NNI quoted officials as saying.

At the endless meetings between leaders of the top political parties, the government has decided to convene the first session of Parliament on November 4 and planned to hold the election for Speaker and Deputy Speaker on November 5 followed by election for Prime Minister's post on November 7, officials said.

The submission of nomination papers for the Leader of the House will complete on November 5.

According to the transfer of power plan controversial Chief Election Commissioner Irshad Hassan Khan would chair the first session of the Parliament and administer oath to the newly elected members of the national Assembly.

Meanwhile, the post-counting polls process, which came under severe criticism form the political parties for its tardy progress, was further slowed down due to stay orders by the courts over the nominations of women and minority members to national and provincial Assemblies.

While the Lahore High Court, which issued a stay order on October 24, withdrew it on October 25, Sindh High Court issued a stay order, admitting petitions questioning the poll results.

The poll process could be completed only after the nomination of 60 women and 10 minority seats to be allotted to parties based on the percentage of the votes polled by them to the national Assembly, is carried out.

PTI