OKARA, April 11: Federal food and agricultural minister Sardar Yar Muhammad Rind has said that President Pervez Musharraf is committed to shedding uniform by Dec 31, and there is no need to reopen the issue.

He was talking to newsmen at Jashn Chakar-i-Azam at the tomb of Baloch leader Mir Chakar Khan Rind at Satgrah, some 15km away from the city. He said it had not yet been decided whether or not the issue of uniform should be taken up with the federal cabinet or the parliamentary parties of government and its allies. However, he added, the issue could be put up for debate in the National Assembly.

He also clarified that statements of federal ministers Syed Faisal Saleh Hayat and Raza Hayat Hiraj of the Patriots group were based on their personal opinions.

Talking to newsmen on the occasion, Millat Party chief MNA Sardar Farooq Ahmad Khan Leghari said that unjust policies of the US were causing extremism in the world.

He said that the National Finance Commission (NFC) award and other inter-provincial issues must be decided with consensus or they could pose a challenge to the integrity of the country.

The function was addressed by Baloch leaders from all over the country besides district Nazim Syed Sajad Haider. Sardar Rind granted Rs500,000 for renovation of the tomb.

Meanwhile, Defence Minister Rao Sikander Iqbal has said that president's military uniform is inevitable for strengthening democracy, protecting nuclear assets and finding a solution to the Kashmir problem.

He was speaking at a press conference after the inaugural ceremony of a local hospital. President Musharraf had sanely and unemotionally guarded Pakistan against an international conspiracy, he added.

He said the Patriots had set democracy on the right track and wanted to strengthen it in the country. The minister said that the National Security Council would only help strengthen the assemblies.