31 December 2004	Friday	18 Ziqa'ad 1425

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ISLAMABAD, Dec 30: The Pakistan People's Party on Thursday asked President Pervez Musharraf not to discredit democracy and democratic institutions by insisting on wearing his military uniform and holding the office of the president at the same time.

In a rejoinder to President Musharraf's address to the nation, a PPP spokesman also rejected Gen Musharraf's contention that his holding the two offices was necessary for national security and stability and continuity of the system.

"Military rule as opposed to the will of the people simply means end to democracy," the spokesman added. The PPP called upon Gen Musharraf to take necessary steps for the return of full civilian and democratic order and hold fair, free and impartial elections.

The elections, the spokesman said, should be held under an independent election commission, with transparent modalities, an accurate vote-count and participation of all parties and personalities. This was as a way to take Pakistan out of a situation where there is a direct military rule.

The National Security Council (NSC) and wide-ranging presidential powers through the 17th Amendment had been justified as measures to keep the military out of politics. By insisting on keeping the uniform, Gen Musharraf was continuing with the military rule, he said.

"Parliamentary democracy and supremacy of the will of the people in accordance with the limits prescribed by the constitution and in which the armed forces are subservient to the civil authority is the best guarantee for national security and stability of the system," he said.

The general might want to acquire more powers by wearing two hats, but by doing so he was weakening and dis-empowering the state institutions, the spokesman observed.

The PPP has been opposed to the 17th Amendment, the NSC as a supra-constitutional body and the holding of the elected office of the president by the army chief. The party opposed it both inside and outside parliament and would continue to do so in future as well, he said.

At the time of government-MMA negotiations, he recalled, the party had cautioned against grafting an undemocratic provision in the re-written constitution. Unfortunately, the advice was ignored, resulting in the present situation, he deplored.

He said it was clear that October 2002 elections had not facilitated the restoration of democracy. In fact, by keeping the true representatives of the people out of assemblies and out of government, the political situation was made more complicated, he added.