October 03, 2007	Wednesday	Ramazan 20, 1428

LAHORE, Oct 2: PPP-Parliamentarians President Makhdoom Amin Fahim says although the Supreme Court has allowed Gen Musharraf to contest the presidential election in uniform, his party will still not like the general to seek a second term as president in military regalia.

Mr Fahim said while talking to Dawn that his party respected the apex court’s verdict, but would not give up its political stand on the issue of uniform. “Democracy and military uniform can’t go together”.

He said his party could extend support only to a civilian president.

Mr Fahim said his petition against Gen Musharraf’s candidature would not be withdrawn and the party would wait for a decision from the apex court.

Asked whether the appointment of a new vice chief of army staff — who would eventually become the next army chief — was not sufficient to prove that Gen Musharraf was serious in taking off his uniform, Mr Fahim said this was an internal affair of the Pakistan Army and the PPP would not be satisfied unless Musharraf stepped down as army chief.

Replying to a question, the PPP leader said he had come to know that the cabinet had decided to withdraw cases against Ms Bhutto, but such a step would not satisfy the PPP as its struggle was not for the withdrawal of baseless cases against the self-exiled former prime minister alone.

The PPP, he emphasised, wanted that cases against all public office holders that could not be proved during the past 10 years should be taken back.

In response to another question, Mr Fahim said the PPP wanted that the ban on two-time prime ministers to contest again should be lifted. “But, so far the matter is lying undecided”.

He said the PPP wanted the government to take a clear stand on the subject. According to him, no talks were held between the government emissaries and the PPP leadership in London on Tuesday.—ASHRAF MUMTAZ