LAHORE, Dec 17: Mr Zulfikar Ali Bhutto had been told by the army in plain terms that military takeover would become unavoidable if his government failed to control the law and order situation, Gen Faiz Ali Chishti, a right hand man of Gen Ziaul Haq and then corps commander, said on Wednesday.

In an interview, he said in response to this warning, Mr Bhutto had told Gen Zia that the army was free to take over at any time of its liking. But, he made it clear that as a politician he would not hand over power to the army.

Gen Chishti said the army sincerely wanted to hold the elections in 90 days, as originally promised. But, he said Gen Zia had changed his mind when Mr Bhutto threatened that he would hang some generals (because of the takeover).

He denied that Mr Bhutto had ever said that he would use Gen Zia’s moustache as his boot laces. He said this was a disinformation.

Gen Chishti said the meeting where the threat had allegedly been hurled had taken place at Murree. It was a meeting between the deposed prime minister and then CMLA and he (Gen Chishti) was the only witness.

Gen Chishti, who was also head of the election cell set up by the military government, said when the election campaign was going one, he had advised Mr Bhutto to go abroad for a month to relax and then come back to take part in the elections. He said he had advised the former prime minister because of the tension he was facing after the ouster of his government.

Gen Chishti said that Gen Tikka Khan had not recommended the aggrandisement of Gen Zia to the high office of the army chief and he had always held the view that Zia was “not” fit for the post. But, he said, Mr Bhutto appointed him COAS because of his own considerations.

One of the most influential ministers of the Zia cabinet, Gen Chishti said army chiefs should retire at the end of their three-year term, no matter what circumstances. However, he said, the principle had never been followed because of which the country had to face many ups and downs.