08 September 2004	Wednesday	22 Rajab 1425

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QUETTA, Sept 7: Muttihada Majlis Amal's Deputy Parliamentary Leader in National Assembly Hafiz Hussain Ahmed has said that the Punjab chief minister cannot protect a uniformed president but the head of state in uniform can guarantee the continuation of the PML government and that is why the Chaudhary is want Mr Musharraf to retain the post of the Chief of the Army Staff besides the presidentship.

Speaking at a press conference at the Press Club here on Tuesday, he condemned the demand of PML and PPP Patriots, urging President Musharraf to stay in uniform. Mr Hussain said the MMA, in the larger interest of parliamentary democracy, swallowed the bitter pill and backed the 17th Amendment to the Constitution in order to give the army an honourable exit from power.

"We paved the constitutional way for them. But now the MMA and other opposition parties feel that President Musharraf, on the advice of some 'unwise friends' wants to undermine the constitutional requirements which will invite crisis."

He said the MMA had backed the 17th Amendment to save the existing political system besides "we were also against pitting the people against the army." He claimed that the rigid attitude of the MMA leadership at that time would have created law and order situation in the country.

He claimed that Mr Musharraf was totally confused as in the capacity of the Chief of the Army Staff he did not trust his army subordinates to shed his uniform and, on the other hand, as the President he doubted loyalties of his parliamentary friends.

He warned the president that in a such dangerous situation any wrong step would push country to chaos. Mr Hussain said that the MMA Supreme Council would meet in Quetta on Sept 25 to decide about the future course of action.