Ex-Generals want President to cede powers to ex-CJ

ISLAMABAD—Retired high profile military officers have asked president Pervez Musharraf to step down forthwith and transfer powers to deposed chief justice of Pakistan Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry.
This demand was made during a press conference here Thursday after the meeting of Ex-service men society. The meeting presided over by Air Marshall (Retd) Asghar Khan was attended by Gen (Retd) Faiz Ali Chishti, Gen (Retd) Aslam Beg, Lt Gen (Retd) Hamid Gul, Lt Gen (Retd) Jamshed Gulzar Kiyani. Lt Gen Talat Masood and a large number of retired officers of army.
Unveiling the details of decisions taken in the meeting Air Marshall (Retd) Asghar Khan told the journalists it was unanimously decided in the meeting that president Musharraf should immediately reinstate deposed chief justice of Pakistan Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, hand over powers to him and resign from his office as his stay in power had caused irreparable loss to the country.
It was held care taker set up was not neutral and fair and transparent elections could not take place under this government, he added. A consensus national government be put in place after restoration of chief justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry , he demanded.
He called for immediate release of national hero Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan. If there is any charge against him then his trial be held, he underlined. To a question he told Ex Service men would demonstrate protest on February, 5 across the country and the protest would be taken forward. Denouncing the curbs slapped on media he called for immediate lifting of these restrictions. A national government with the consultation of all political parties be established after the reinstatement of deposed Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry.
If president Musharraf does not resign then a forceful movement would be launched all over the country against him, he warned. Air Marshall (Retd) Asghar Khan however did not give any deadline with respect to campaign.
About contacts with army chief general Ashfaq Pervez Kiyani he said ex service men society had neither contacted him nor would do so in future. President Musharraf did not hold the corrupt people accountable and rather he heaped favors upon them, he alleged. He was of the view president Musharraf had no mandate to hold presidential elections. The next government would decide about the impeachment of president Musharraf, he underscored Pakistan Ex-Servicemen Society (PESS) has urged upon President Pervez Musahharf to leave the power and appoint the deposed chief justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry as the new president. The decisions taken at the PESS meeting, which was held here on Thursday under the chair of Air Marshal (Retd) Asghar Khan, it was announced by him at a press conference.
The PESS advised Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry to set up an interim national government after taking over as president. It also asked him to set up an independent election commission headed by Justice (Retd) Rana Bhagwandas. It demanded that Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan should be released or presented before a court because he was a hero of the nation.
The ex-servicemen announced to join the protest demonstration of lawyers and journalists in Islamabad on February 5. Air Marshal (Retd) Asghar Khan said that President Pervez Musharraf had extended the country an irreparable loss and Pakistan could face further danger if he remained in power any more.
He said that the present caretaker government was not impartial and fair and free elections could not be expected under it. The retired Air Marshal said that Pervez Musharraf had raised the slogan of accountability after taking over in 1999 but later he took the corrupt people into his government. He said that the PESS had not decided as yet whether or not to contact the Army General or the political parties. He said that PESS had 80,000 members throughout the country.
Earlier addressing the PESS meeting, General (Retd) Mirza Aslam Beg said that Pervez Musharraf was a US agent and would remain so. He said Musharraf was anti-justice who removed the chief justice. He accused that Musharraf murdered orphans and poor children inside the Lal Masjid.
He said Pervez Musharraf had become mentally incapable and the language he used against the ex Army Generals was unacceptable. He said the Army was like a family and we respected the elders. He asked the nation to wait for the February 18 polls after which the nation would hear a good news because all the parties were talking of a national government. Admiral (Retd) Sharif said that the first martial law in 1958 was the biggest mistake.—Agencies