Islamabad: Pakistan's military ruler Pervez Musharraf on November 16 got himself sworn-in as President for another five years, hours after he gave himself sweeping powers to enforce his amendments to the Constitution as the first elected Parliament in three years met in what has been touted as the return of civilian rule.

Musharraf, 59, was sworn-in by Chief Justice of Pakistan Supreme Court, Riaz Sheikh, at the Presidential residence at a ceremony attended by top civil and military officials as well as diplomats and televised live, two hours ahead of the convening of the newly-elected National Assembly.

The 342-member National Assembly began its session with reading of Quran amid continuing uncertainty over who would be able to form government in view of the fractured verdict in the October 10 general elections.

The newly-elected members stood in unison to take oath. The session was presided over by Elahi Bux Soomro, a former Parliament Speaker.

Before taking oath, the members debated the Constitution with several legislatures speaking out against the changes made by Musharraf giving himself the authority to dismiss elected Parliament.

An official statement issued after the military ruler took the oath of office said, "General Pervez Musharraf has entered upon the office of the President of Pakistan under the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan."

"Let it be known to all and sundry that General Pervez Musharraf has today taken the oath of office and has assumed the office of the President of Pakistan," it said.

Musharraf issued a decree "Removal of Difficulty Order" just after midnight, reviving the 1973 Constitution.

His new order said he would act as the Chief Executive till such time the new Prime Minister takes oath of office.

"The President as Chief Executive has revived the Constitution of Pakistan except a few articles pertaining to the provincial governments, the senate of Pakistan, etc, with effect from November 16, 2002, which will be restored later," an official statement said.

In its revised form, the Constitution contains most of the 29 controversial amendments Musharraf announced in August in a Legal Framework Order (LFO).

In an apparent move to encourage defections from the mainstream parties to the government-backed Pakistan Muslim League-Qaide Azam (PML-Q), Musharraf has not revived that part of the Constitution which barred floor-crossing of the members.

Syed Sharifuddin Pirzada, top legal aide of the military government, was quoted by local daily 'Dawn' as saying that the Constitution "has been revived barring those provisions that deal with the Senate, provincial governments, and chief ministers".

The military government has taken the position that the Chief Executive has amended the Constitution under the legislative powers, which were granted to him by Supreme Court.

Officials said the newly elected members will take oath under the Constitution as amended through the LFO.

This was strongly contested by various political parties including Pakistan People's Party (PPP) and the six-party religious alliance Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA).