11 April 2004	Sunday	20 Safar 1425

LAHORE, April 10: MMA Secretary-General Liaquat Baloch said on Saturday Gen Pervez Musharraf would violate the constitution and dishonour his commitment to the alliance if he did not shed his uniform by Dec 31.

"Those who are advising Gen Musharraf not to shed his uniform are actually his foolish friends," he said referring to a statement of interior minister Faisal Saleh Hayat.

He told a press conference here on Saturday that a president-in-uniform was causing instability, disappointment and anarchy in the country.

He said the coalition ruling the country saw a bleak political future in the resignation of Gen Musharraf as army chief.

Answering a question, the MMA leader said army dictators could not be tried under Article 6 of the Constitution because its implementation needed legislation, which successive political governments had ignored in the past.

Demanding immediate action against the elements responsible for changes in the syllabi, he warned the government of a big resistance.

Holding the Peshawar corps commanders and the tribal areas JCO responsible for the 'wrong' military strategy regarding Wana operation, Mr Baloch said the action against tribesmen lacked popular support and evinced hatred of the masses against the army.

Regarding statements of interior and information ministers about resumption of the operation, he said these indicated the US pressure on the government. He warned the government that such a step would lead to destruction.

Commenting on the National Security Council bill, he said the forum would weaken the federal parliamentary system and keep parliament's sovereignty under check.

"Conferring more powers upon the president in the name of consultations will destabilize the political system."

He welcomed the Supreme Court's verdict in PML-N president Shahbaz Sharif's case, saying now there was no legal obstacle in the return of Mr Sharif, Benazir Bhutto, Altaf Husain and other leaders and they should immediately return home.

He told a questioner that the MMA would consider the Wana march proposal given by the JUP, one of the alliance's six components. Answering another question, he said the PPP was attending the meetings of the National Assembly's standing committees despite a decision against it by all the opposition parties.