LAHORE, June 17: ARD chairman Makhdoom Amin Fahim says US Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte’s statement that it is for President Musharraf to decide when to take off his military uniform has not surprised the parties in the opposition.

Talking to reporters on Sunday, he said the US and other Western countries had their own point of view about Gen Musharraf because of their war on terror. However, he said, their continued support to Gen Musharraf would not change the ARD’s position and the alliance would not recognise him as a constitutionally-elected president.

He said the ARD would continue to apprise the foreign countries of their stand on Gen Musharraf’s status, no matter whether they agreed with it or not. —Staff Reporter