It is right time for transition towards complete democracy: President
DM Monitoring

ISLAMABAD—President General Pervez Musharraf on Thursday reiterated his commitment to doff military uniform between October 6 to November 15 this year, and categorically said it was the right time for transition towards complete democracy.
“One has to rationalize that you have to after all one day get into transition towards complete democracy...and the complete democracy where a President is without uniform. I think this is the right time for this transition”, the President said in an interview with a local television.
To a question about the date of leaving his military post, the President said, he has given in writing that November 15 was the last date (for leaving the military post) and, adding, “before that it is my option.” To another question, he said, that remaining in uniform beyond 2004 was necessitated by the domestic and regional environment at that time.
The President, however, added that “there is a difference between 2003 or 2004 and 2007”, as there was no constitutional or legal compulsion on him to remove the uniform at that time, as he was allowed to hold dual offices by November 15. Asked if he thinks that there was a qualitative change in the situation and keeping the two posts was no longer necessary, the President said, “Yes I think so”.
He, however, added the biggest dictate for leaving the post of army chief was the legal and constitutional dictate. The President further said that with the country passing through difficult times domestically and regionally and fighting terrorism and extremism, it was important (during the last few years) that a President remained in uniform.
He said that challenges faced by the country in last few years such as the earthquake, recent floods as well as the Sukkur barrage, which was almost going to be washed off, proved value of a President in uniform.
To another question, the President said, it is always good that there is unity between the President, the Prime Minister and the Army Chief. “If there is harmony between the President, the Prime Minister and the Army Chief, it will add to the strength”, he said and mentioned the pre-1999 periods when the Prime Minister and Army Chief used to be in confrontation, with the President and Prime Minister also in confrontation.
“We should go for a change where the Prime Minister, the President and the Army Chief should work in harmony.” To another question, the President said, there was a history of wrong things, adding, but he being an accommodative person, would like to undo the wrong history and he was very capable of undoing it.
“I can function with anyone. I don’t believe in confrontation. I believe in taking people along. I have always done it and I will succeed in doing this.” The President said, he has the capabilities and was able to work with any prime minister. “Therefore I have no reason to believe that there will be any confrontation between the President and the Prime Minister.”it.