Musharraf Holds On to Army Chief Post
This article is from the archive of The New York Sun before the launch of its new website in 2022. The Sun has neither altered nor updated such articles but will seek to correct any errors, mis-categorizations or other problems introduced during transfer.
LAHORE, Pakistan – Pakistan’s opposition parties have vowed to step up their campaign against President General Musharraf after he announced that he will stay on as both president and army chief, despite a pledge that he would give up his military role by the end of the year.
Leaders of religious and mainstream opposition parties denounced General Musharraf yesterday at a rally in Rawalpindi and threatened more protests if he does not hang up his army uniform by December 31.
Speaking on TV at the weekend, General Musharraf, who took power in a coup in 1999 and is strongly supported by the West, said: “I will remain in uniform even after December 31. I am telling you this for the first time, “
He said his decision was taken in the national interest, to ensure political stability and to pursue the war on terrorism. Parliament has passed a bill which allows him to retain both roles for an indefinite period.
But the decision is bitterly opposed by two separate opposition alliances who are staging a series of rallies across the country and have vowed to hold a sit-in, in the capital, Islamabad on January 1.
Six religious parties allied in the United Action Forum were joined by leaders from the Alliance for the Restoration of Democracy, made up of mainstream parties, in yesterday’s rally.
Qazi Hussain Ahmad, a United Action Forum leader said that “the Pakistani nation will not accept the illegal government of Pervez Musharraf.”
He said that “military dictatorship is the root cause of all evils in Pakistan.”
Earlier this month General Musharraf received ringing endorsements from Prime Minister Blair, President Bush, and President Chirac after a tour of western countries. America and Europe have all but dropped demands for greater democracy in Pakistan because of General Musharraf’s central role in the war against Al Qaeda.
In preparation for the December 31 deadline, General Musharraf and his military intelligence is trying hard to divide the opposition.
Already some religious leaders have said they will not mount more protests against the general.
