Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

DATE=11/30/2004

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=PAKISTAN / MUSHARRAF (L-O)

NUMBER=2-320790

BYLINE=MICHAEL KITCHEN

DATELINE=ISLAMABAD

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

HEADLINE: New Law: Pakistan's Musharraf Can Keep Military Chief Post Despite Protest

INTRO: In a final formality, a bill allowing Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf to retain his concurrent post as armed forces chief has now been signed into law. VOA's Michael Kitchen reports from Islamabad, opposition protests over Mr. Musharraf's dual roles seem to be having little effect.

TEXT: Standing in for the traveling President Musharraf, the head of Pakistan's senate signed the so-called "Uniform Bill" into law, removing the last legal hurdle to Mr. Musharraf's staying on as military chief.

The president has promised to leave the military by the end of 2004. But he has strongly signaled in recent months he had changed his mind. Now he can legally.

Pakistan's opposition alliance of conservative religious parties - known as the Mutahidda Majlis-e Amal or M.M.A. - is crying foul. Members says the president is reneging on a deal with the M.M.A. last year in which they supported sweeping new powers for Mr. Musharraf in exchange for his military retirement.

The alliance says Mr. Musharraf's dual roles give him too much power and threaten to turn Pakistan's democracy into a military dictatorship.

M.M.A. leaders have staged demonstrations and will hold a final rally on December 19 to press Mr. Musharraf on the issue. They vow to begin a massive protest movement if their demand is ignored.

But political commentator Ayaz Amir says the M.M.A. holds little power in terms of mobilizing popular support.

/// AMIR ACT 1 ///

"Their impact is limited. They represent a fringe of Pakistani politics, they don't represent the mainstream."

/// END ACT ///

Mr. Amir adds that the international community is not likely to join criticism of President Musharraf as being anti-democratic, given his support for the war on terrorism.

/// AMIR ACT 2 ///

"If we stop the cooperation in the fight against al-Qaida, whatever, then everyone will wake up to the dangers to democracy in Pakistan. But before that, no."

/// END ACT ///

General Musharraf took power in a bloodless 1999 coup and was later elected president by referendum. (SIGNED)

NEB/HK/MK/JJ/MEM