February 02, 2008	Saturday	Muharram 23, 1429

ISLAMABAD, Feb 1: A group of eminent personalities including retired generals and bureaucrats have welcomed various instructions and steps announced by the new army chief to distance the military from civilian and political domains.

The group on civil-military relations, which met here on Friday with former federal minister Sartaj Aziz in the chair, stressed the need to identify effective measures to sustain and institutionalise permanent disengagement of the military from the political sphere.

The group also discussed different possibilities to extend and broaden the civil-military dialogue. With an aim to promote civil-military relations, it is being facilitated by an NGO - the Pakistan Institute of Legislative Development and Transparency (Pildat).

According to a press release, the group reiterated its stance that the institutions of state should function strictly according to the Constitution and that the armed forces be subject to civilian control.

Stability, progress and prosperity of the country required a rule of law, genuinely free and fair elections, an independent and restored judiciary, a vibrant civil society and a free media, it said.

The group expressed concern over the expanding militancy in the tribal areas and growing violence in other parts of the country and urged on the need for a review of the policy and strategy. A sub-committee of the group was made to analyse and closely monitor the unfolding situation in the tribal and other areas to formulate options and recommendations.

It plans to present these recommendations at its next meeting, to be held shortly after the February 18 elections.

The meeting was attended, among others, by Lt-Gen Asad Durrani (retired), former minister Javed Jabbar, Lt-Gen Moinuddin Haider (retired), Lt-Gen Talat Masood (retired) and executive director Pildat Ahmed Bilal Mehboob.