15 December 2004	Wednesday	02 Ziqa'ad 1425

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RAWALPINDI, Dec 14: Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal Deputy Secretary General Liaquat Baloch on Tuesday rejected any compromise on the president's uniform issue , saying that Gen Pervez Musharraf had to quit any of the two offices currently held by him before December 31.

The MMA leader was speaking at a meeting of Ulema here in connection with the forthcoming rally scheduled to be held in Liaquat Bagh on December 19. He asked the army to restore its honour as an institution and save itself from being hated by the people.

He said the army chief while sitting in the saddle of presidentship had been affecting Pakistan's image in the comity of nations. Mr Baloch alleged that Gen Musharraf had some specific motives behind his reluctance to shed uniform.

He said the forthcoming rally would pave the way for restoration of democracy. He also asked the opposition to side with the religious parties' alliance on the same charter.

The leader claimed that the MMA rallies had caused tremors in the government quarters and steps were being taken to prevent public participation even before the start of the gatherings.

"Government's efforts to fail the rallies in Karachi, Multan and Lahore have failed. Political inertia has been broken and people have risen with a new vigour and enthusiasm."

He was of the view that the government had become extremely unpopular due to its failures and the prevailing hatred against it had been growing day by day. "It has become a buzzword that the army has occupied power," he added.

The MMA leader said the past dictatorships had left un erasable scars on the country. "Gen Musharraf has broken all the previous records. He has destroyed the ideological basis of the country," he added.

Mr Baloch said: "In the presence of five other generals, Pervez Musharraf has promised that he would remove his uniform before December 31, 2004, but now as the countdown is nearing, he has been reneging on his pledge and deceiving the 150 million people."

OUR REPORTER ADDS: Pakistan Muslim League (PML) Vice- President Syed Kabir Ali Wasti on Tuesday said military office of President Gen Pervez Musharraf would largely benefit the national interests.

In a statement, he said President Musharraf would act as a neutral head of state and chief of the army staff and take along all political forces for advancing his progressive and liberal agenda.

"Agitation of the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal (MMA) poses no threat to the president, and neither the PML nor its government is afraid of it." Mr Wasti stressed that the MMA should positively respond to the offer of national reconciliation by President Musharraf and Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz. The idea of a grand reconciliation would not harm Mr Aziz's government, but would further strengthen it, he said.