World | Pakistan
Islamist alliance urges president to be realistic, quit one of his posts
Pakistan's powerful Islamist alliance, Muttahida Majlis Amal(MMA), reminded Pakistan's President Pervez Musharraf of his commitment to relinquish the post of army chief that he had made in a nationally televised address in December last year.
- By Shahid Hussain, Correspondent
- Published: 00:00 September 17, 2004
Pakistan's powerful Islamist alliance, Muttahida Majlis Amal(MMA), reminded Pakistan's President Pervez Musharraf of his commitment to relinquish the post of army chief that he had made in a nationally televised address in December last year.
"Under the 17th amendment to the Constitution the president is bound to keep one office after December 31, 2004," MMA central leader Liaqat Baloch said.
"A deviation from the constitutional obligation and his own public pledge will be tantamount to a fraud with the nation and push the country into a constitutional crisis," he said.
"By giving precedence to personal interest Musharraf will be acting against his oft-repeated 'Pakistan First' slogan. We hope he will adopt a realistic attitude and quit one of the two offices."
Baloch urged the military leadership to carefully weigh the advantages and disadvantages of maintaining the status quo.
He said the supreme leadership council of MMA would meet on September 25 to discuss the situation and chalk out a comprehensive strategy to uphold the constitution in league with the other opposition parties.
The secular Alliance for Restoration of Democracy (ARD) said vital national issues should not be decided according to the "whim and wish of an individual or a group."
"Issues of national importance are decided on the basis of constitutional provisions and principles," ARD chairman and leader of Pakistan People's Party Parliamentarian Makhdoom Amin Fahim said.
"There is no room at all under the constitution for a president in uniform," the ARD leader said.
Law Minister Wasi Zafar argued that there was "clear immunity" for President Musharraf from the clause barring holding of two offices that would take effect after December 31, 2004 under the 17th amendment.
Should there be a need to reaffirm this position it will be done through an act of Parliament any time before the end of the current year, the minister said.
The 17th amendment, which the government was able to steer through the parliament with MMA support after a deal with the religious alliance, legitimised Musharraf's presidency, all his actions after the 1999 coup and wide presidential powers.
It ended a paralysing constitutional row and in a quid pro quo Musharraf agreed to stand down as army chief this year as was demanded by MMA.
Analysts foresee a relapse of political polarisation and confrontation, with the MMA threatening to launch a movement in cooperation with other parties if Musharraf goes ahead with his intention to continue his dual position.
The president, who is due to leave this week for the US to attend the UN General Assembly, said earlier this month that 96 per cent of Pakistanis wanted him to keep his military post.
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