Govt to stand by Musharraf, resolves PTI.

ISLAMABAD -- Prime Minister Imran Khan on Wednesday decided to stand by self-exiled former military ruler retired Gen Pervez Musharraf, who was handed death sentence for high treason, and explained he had skipped the Kuala Lumpur summit of Muslim states because of 'national interest'.

The prime minister directed the government's legal team and parliamentary committee of the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) to forge consensus with the opposition for appropriate legislation on the extension of service of the army chief as per the Supreme Court directive.

The prime minister barred government's spokespersons from commenting on the special court's verdict.

The decisions were taken at a PTI core committee meeting chaired by the prime minister soon after his return from Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Switzerland.

The meeting considered some changes in the procedure of appointment of the chief election commissioner. The CEC is presently appointed [under the Constitution] by the prime minister with the consent of the leader of the opposition in the National Assembly. The meeting termed the prevailing procedure 'undemocratic' as it did not ensure participation and consent of other parliamentary parties, especially those in the ruling alliance.

PM says he skipped Kuala Lumpur summit because of 'national interest'

At a post-core committee meeting press conference, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (SAPM) on Information Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan said the government's legal team apprised the prime minister of all legal aspects of the high treason case against former president Musharraf in which he was awarded death sentence on Tuesday.

It has been learnt that the special court will issue the detailed judgement in the high treason case on Thursday (today) after which the government will chalk out its strategy how to deal with the issue.

The prime minister was of the view that there should not be any conflict among institutions of the country and there must be complete harmony among them. 'We have to give strength to our institutions and should stand by them,' he was quoted as saying.

According to Dr Awan, the prime minister told the meeting that institutions were pillars of the state and the state's interest would always be supreme at any cost. 'We have to support the state institutions and make them independent and stand by the rule of law.'

'PM has no individual point of view; he is with the stance of state that we have to stand by justice and to...