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Musharraf to renounce some
powers after Oct polls

At a dinner meeting with Pakistani-Americans in New York, Musharraf said he would hand over the power of dissolving the national assembly to the National Security Council (NSC), a 12-member body comprising top civil and military officials, after the general elections in October.

"I am of the firm opinion that it (the NSC) must not govern and must do its own job," he added.

The announcement follows stringent criticism, especially from the US, of the amendments, which gave special powers to the Pakistani president as well as the country's powerful military.

Musharraf also defended the formation of the NSC as consultative body and said it was an important mechanism to rule out future military coups as the top brass of the defence was part of it.

"Past experience leads us to believe that to bring the army out, bring it in. We have decided to put a check on all the three power brokers (in Pakistan) - the president, the prime minister and the chief of army," he said.

He also urged Pakistanis settled abroad to invest in Pakistan and help the country's economy.

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