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ISLAMABAD: Giving a lucid mode to all sorts of apprehensions — backed by a spree of speculations to fade away — President General Pervez Musharraf, Wednesday aired to the globe most explicitly to his critics in the political arena of Pakistan n' resolving a row with an opposition alliance, MMA which had virtually paralyzed the parliament, that he 'will take away his military uniform by December next year — 2004.'

President in Uniform

Dilating on the complex issue of his holding two offices as President n’ the Chief of the Army Staff simultaneously, the President said in a televised address to the nation Wednesday that he always held that ‘a President in uniform was not a democratic dispensation’ but, he added ‘it was very important in the context of Pakistan's environment.’

‘Many of my well wishers do not want me to remove the uniform because they are concerned about the security of Pakistan, I am also concerned about the security and progress of Pakistan’, Musharraf remarked.

He said that ‘I contemplated about it deeply, objectively by putting myself aside and I also thought about the security of Pakistan and I also thought about the political harmony’.

Apt Time

'There comes a time in the lives of nations when important decisions must be taken,' Musharraf said. 'That time has come.' ‘I reached a conclusion that taking a decision on this issue at the right time is very important’, he observed with an announcement:

‘Therefore I realized that the time for the decision is now, and taking a decision is imperative at this moment. I have decided that I will remove my uniform by December 2004 and leave the office of the Chief of the Army Staff.’

Exact Date n' Perspective

However, the President — wearing glasses and dressed in his green and black military outfit — said that he himself will decide on the exact date of leaving the office of the Army Chief ‘within the said period’.

After he steps down from the army post, Musharraf must seek a vote of confidence in parliament to serve out the rest of his presidential term, which ends in 2007. The opposition party that reached the agreement with Musharraf said 'it would back him in the vote'.

The 1999 Coup

Musharraf still enjoys popular support after ousting the ineffective government of then-Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in a bloodless 1999 coup.

The General seized power after Sharif denied landing rights to the civilian plane carrying Musharraf, nearly causing it to crash with well over 100 people on board.

Article 58 (2B) n’ SC’s Role

On the subject of article 58 (2B) of the Constitution, the President said that it has been resolved that if a President invokes it, he will refer the matter to the Supreme Court of Pakistan within 15 days.

The Supreme Court will decide on the matter within 30 days, he said.

NSC

Mushrraf remarked that the National Security Council will come into existence through an act of the Parliament.

The National Security Council holds a great significance vis-à-vis supremacy of democracy and sustainable democracy in the country.

Services Chiefs Appointment

On the appointment of the Services Chiefs, he said it has been settled that the President would appoint them in consultation with the Prime Minister.

The LFO

On the topic of the Legal Framework Order [LFO], President Musharraf said the agreement on Legal Framework Order between the government and the MMA is a momentous occasion as it is democracy that has won and it is Pakistan which has been victorious.

'All these decisions are historic and nobody has won or lost, it is democracy that has won and it is Pakistan that has been victorious,' he said.

Timely Decisions by the Nation

The President congratulated the nation for timely taken decisions and assured that he would not allow Pakistan's progress and sovereignty to suffer in any way.

'In the lives of nations there are moments, when important decisions have to be taken, if these decisions are not taken in time, the nation suffers - so we are taking important decisions.'

Agreement

The President asserted that he took decisions in the interest of the country and democracy.

He congratulated both the government and MMA teams for concluding the deliberations on the LFO amicably and expected that 'all political parties in future will conduct the proceedings of the Parliament democratically and harmoniously.'

Vote of Confidence

In accordance with the agreement, the President said, he will seek a vote of confidence from the Parliament and relinquish the office of the Army Chief by December 2004.

On the issue of his election through the Parliament, the President said that he has no doubt that he is an elected and constitutional President as the entire nation voted for him in the referendum.

'But since there were a lot of differences and various opinions, I thought it that in national interests and in respect of political harmony, I present myself to the Parliament for election. So I will seek a vote of confidence from the National Assembly, the Senate and all provincial assemblies.'

Role of LGs

The President said it has been agreed on the issue of the local government system that it is a provincial subject and would be removed from the Sixth Schedule of LFO after six years in December 2009.

Before that date, two local government elections will take place, in December 2005 and August 2009. The system has brought about a silent revolution in the country, as acknowledged internationally as well, he emphasized.

'It is imperative that this system is stabilized and strengthened for grass roots development and poverty alleviation,' he emphasised.

The President said he is fully confident that after two elections the system will grow stronger. He said the system would be harmonized at local, provincial and national levels.

Decision on Retirement Age Withdrawn

About the issue of retirement age of the superior court judges, the President said the decision to increase their retirement age has been withdrawn. The judges will now retire on the original date of retirement, as it was before the introduction of the Legal Framework Order.

Now it will be up to the Parliament whether it considers the issue of their age of retirement.

However, he said, the retirement age of judges was increased by three years in line with the Law Commission and as per international practice. 'I consulted with the senior judges and lawyers and took a decision in the interest of Pakistan and harmony,' he remarked.

Reaction

When contacted by Pakistan Times, the first independent web newspaper of Pakistan, while the people from diverse segments of the society favoured the President's announcement with the words that 'it brings to an end, year-old political crisis of Pakistan with a landmark agreement between the ruling party and the MMA over controversial constitutional reforms introduced by Musharraf', others, with Ms Benazir Bhutto-led PPP n' Nawaz Sharif's faction of the PML gave a contrary n' opposing viewpoint.