Musharraf to decide uniform issue in 'supreme national interest'

South Asia News

Musharraf to decide uniform issue in 'supreme national interest'

Islamabad, July 7 (IANS) Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf has said he would decide when to resign as chief of the army staff (COAS) and shed his uniform 'in supreme national interest'.

Musharraf used his 'home audience' of Pakistan Muslim League-Qaid (PML-Q) lawmakers and leaders to make this announcement Thursday, a day after he said in Gilgit that he was aware that being 'a soldier' he could not contest elections.

According to The Nation, Musharraf indicated that he might gather 'international opinion' before deciding, but did not elaborate.

'I will decide about it according to the constitution and keeping in view the best interest of the nation and country', he told parliamentarians 'who were pursuing him not to even talk about quitting the uniform'.

Noting that in doing so, Musharraf was 'brushing aside opposition parties' campaign', The News said 'the president minced no words that this will be a decision, which he would take in the best national interest, stressing it would be far-reaching'.

One source said the president told the meeting that the decision regarding his re-election as president for another five-year term would be taken within the constitutional framework.

Musharraf has been army chief since Oct 7, 1998. He ousted prime minister Nawaz Sharif in 1999. Holding of the two offices has been an issue between the opposition and his government since the October 2002 general election.

Musharraf attained the age of superannuation in October 2001. At that time, he was holding the offices of army chief, chief executive and president. He extended his tenure as army chief for an indefinite period, an order that coincided with the US military intervention in Afghanistan.

Parliament was paralysed throughout 2003 as the opposition refused to cooperate pending resolution of the uniform issue. In December 2003, Musharraf entered into an agreement with the Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA) to end the stalemate and promised to leave the army job by Dec 31, 2004.

In return, the alliance of religious parties endorsed several controversial amendments he had made to the constitution and facilitated ratification of his election as president through referendum held in 2002.

In August 2002, Musharraf had a new provision to the constitution added incorporating a role for himself. On his continuation as president and COAS for another five years, Musharraf has been saying: 'I see a role for myself and the need for my continuation. It is too important to be delegated to anyone else.'

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Musharraf to decide uniform issue in 'supreme national interest'