’Wealth sets deadline for Musharraf to retain Khaki
But nation wants him in both roles - Elected Parliament allows President to remain in Uniform till 2007: PM

VALLETTA—Leaders of the 53-nation Commonwealth on Sunday warned President General Pervez Musharraf that retaining his role as Army Chief is incompatible with the basic principles of democracy.
And they said that until he gives up his military role, Pakistan remained in danger of sliding into repression, despite its recent progress.
In a statement at the end of a three-day summit here, they welcomed Pakistan’s progress in restoring democracy since its reinstatement to the Commonwealth in 2004, and gave it two years to resolve the issue of Musharraf’s dual role.
Pakistan was suspended from the club of mainly former British colonies in 1999 when Musharraf grabbed power in a military coup, and he has reneged on a pledge to give up his military role.
Commonwealth leaders “reiterated that until the two offices are separated, the process of democratisation in Pakistan will not be irreversible,” the statement said.
The statement “noted that the holding by the same person of the offices of head of state and chief of army staff is incompatible with the basic principles of democracy”.
The Commonwealth “urged Pakistan to resolve this issue as early as possible, and not beyond the end of the current presidential term in 2007 at the latest.” Pending resolution of the issue, Pakistan would remain on the agenda of the body’s democracy watchdog, the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group.
Apart from progress in rebuilding democratic institutions, Musharraf’s rehabilitation into the international community has been helped by his backing of the US-led campaign against terror, leading to a purge of extremists.
Meanwhille Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz has said that parliament has allowed President General Pervez Musharraf to keep dual offices up to 2007 and added that he will take off his uniform after the completion of his tenure.
In an interview to BBC on Sunday he clarified that the elected parliament allowed President General Pervez Musharraf to remain in uniform up to 2007 and said that we have cleared our position regarding this matter to the opposition.
“It was necessary that President be allowed to keep his uniform because we were facing many challenges like war against terrorism and other security issues and the law of the land has allowed him to do so”, he said and added that he thinks the commonwealth has fully understood that and appreciated that they have expressed their view that we hope that when this period ends, the president would take off his uniform.
Replying to a query he said that we came to commonwealth meeting for pledges for earthquake victims but he said that it is the human nature to help and to condole others wherever possible and he added that many leaders of the different countries met me and promised for their help.
About the question regarding market access he said that we requested European union to give us more market access and in this regard he added that he met with Britain prime minister Tony Blair who is enjoying European union chairmanship.—Agencies
The Daily Mail adds: However, a referendum conducted by The Daily Mail and also by a US-based institution, Pew Research Institute (PRI), in September 2004 around 89% Pakistanis as well as the world community voted in favour of the dual office of President General Pervez Musharraf in the larger interest of global peace and harmony. However, the general opinion in Pakistan still remains in favour of President General Pervez Musharraf’s dual role.