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Pak religious groups to protest against Musharraf`s uniform

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Islamabad, Dec 19, IRNA - Hundreds of activists of Pakistan Islamic 
groups announced in a rally on Sunday to hold rallies on January 1 
across the country if President General Pervez Musharraf did not quit 
as army chief by December 31. 
"We will foil attempts by General Musharraf to stay army chief," 
Qazi Hussain Ahmed, chief of the opposition Muttahida Majlis-e Amal 
(MMA) alliance of six Islamic parties told a rain-hit rally of about 
8,000 people in Rawalpindi. 
The MMA leader said the alliance top leadership will meet in 
Islamabad on December 24 to chalk out its future strategy. 
The rally was fourth of the protest campaign by the alliance 
launched last month in a move to force President Musharraf to 
relinquish powers as the army chief. 
General Musharraf has been quoted as saying that he will remain 
the army chief despite his earlier commitment to relinquish the post 
by the end of the year. 
"I will remain in uniform to strengthen democracy and ensure 
stability," General Musharraf told a private television channel on 
Friday. 
Musharraf in a televised address announced last year to shed 
uniform by December 31. But now he says that his quitting as army 
chief will affect campaign against al-Qaeda and the on-going dialogue 
process with India. 
General Musharraf told Sindhi language Kawish Television Network 
that he would soon address the nation to tell them as to why he is not
relinquishing the army post. 
"I will tell the nation where we were in the past, where we stand 
today and where we are headed in the future," he said. 
Musharraf accused those who are opposing his uniform of harming 
democratic process in the country adding that his decision is in the 
interests of political stability and national solidarity. 
Political observers believe the remarks are the first clear 
statement by General Musharraf amid protest campaign by religious 
groups, urging him to quit the military post. 
He had made the commitment to quit as army chief after the 
opposition alliance of Islamic groups struck a deal with the ruling 
Muslim League in supporting several constitutional amendments which 
delegated more powers to President Musharraf including the power to 
dissolve the parliament. 
Last month the parliament authorized Musharraf to keep two 
offices but the opposition described it violation of the constitution.
TSH/2324/1432