Islamabad: Apprehensive of constitutional and legal problems, if he signed a Bill approved by Parliament authorising him to hold the posts of the President and Army Chief beyond this year, Pakistan President Gen Pervez Musharraf has left it for Senate Chairman and Acting President Mu Hammad Soomro to sign it in his absence.

The Bill will be signed by Soomro shortly, Pakistan's Parliamentary Affairs Minister, Sher Afghan Niazi was quoted as saying in the media today (Nov 29, 2004).

The Government has sent the Uniform Bill 2004, approved by Parliament, to Soomro, currently the Acting President in the absence of Musharraf, who is touring Latin American countries, fearing legal complications if the General himself signed it, local daily 'The News' said.

According to Pakistan Constitution, Chairman of the Senate would officiate as President in his absence.

The Bill allows Musharraf to retain both the offices, President and Chief of Army staff, beyond 2004. Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Sher Afgan Niazi sent the uniform bill with his signatures to the Presidency last weekend for its formal approval, it said.

Musharraf refrained from signing earlier after an Opposition Senator pointed out a clause in the Constitution barring the President to sign any Bill that solely benefited him, it said.