'Musharraf retaining uniform' a sticking point

Islamabad: A key cabinet minister said yesterday that President Pervez Musharraf retaining the uniform was the "sticking point" in the meeting he held with former prime minister and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader Benazir Bhutto in the UAE three days ago.

"The sticking point between them was the question relating to Musharraf retaining the uniform," parliamentary affairs minister Dr Sher Afgan Niazi told Gulf News.

Friday's talks in Abu Dhabi between Musharraf and Bhutto have created a stir in political circles and angered the PPP's partner in the Alliance for Restoration of Democracy (ARD), the Pakistan Muslim League of former premier Nawaz Sharif.

The president and the PPP chairperson have not directly spoken about their surprise meeting, amid a spate of speculation that a political deal between them was on the anvil and could come about very soon.

The parliamentary affairs minister said Musharraf would be willing to give up the uniform once he "gets the support of the PPP and other moderate forces firmly behind him."

Dr Niazi said if an agreement matured, the government would have to amend the law that puts a bar on assuming the office of the prime minister more than twice.

"This law will have to be changed through a constitutional amendment," the minister said, adding the corruption cases against Benazir could also be revoked.

The constitution puts a two-year bar on the chief of the army staff holding any office of profit until two years after his retirement from office.

This law, Dr Niazi said, would also have to be looked into when Musharraf quits the post of army chief to contest presidential elections as a civilian president.

"President Musharraf and Benazir Bhutto discussed the appointment of a new army chief as Musharraf might give up his uniform in his next presidential term. Hamid Nasir Chatha might become the next caretaker prime minister," Dr Niazi added.

He said the two leaders discussed forging an alliance to meet the challenges facing the country, especially the threat of extremism.

Join forces

"An alliance among moderate forces is the need of the time. Both agree that moderate forces must join hands to defeat the scourge of terrorism and extremism," the minister said.

Benazir told a private channel yesterday that Musharraf in uniform was not acceptable as president by her party.

She said she would not comment at the moment on whether the meeting in Abu Dhabi was held or not, but added negotiations with the government had been going on without reaching a conclusion so far.

- With inputs by Wajid Ali Wajid, Correspondent