ISLAMABAD, Aug 4: The ruling Pakistan Muslim League on Saturday decided to get President Gen Pervez Musharraf re-elected in uniform from the present assemblies. The decision was taken at a meeting of the party’s central executive committee held here under party chief Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain. Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz also attended the meeting.

Sources in the PML told Dawn the meting also stressed that the same prime minister and party head were essential to ensure continuity of policies.

Political observers see it as a clear message for Gen Musharraf against any change in the government in the backdrop of his recent visit to Abu Dhabi which gave rise to reports about a possible deal between him and PPP chairperson Benazir Bhutto.

They said party’s senior vice-president Syed Kabir Ali Wasti opposed re-election of the president in uniform. He said nobody should insist on it if the apex court gave a verdict against it. He said the president could be re-elected without uniform.

Chaudhry Shujaat said while the members were free to express their views on the forum, no statements should be made on the issue after a decision by the central executive committee. “Everybody should fully back the decisions taken by this body,” the sources quoted him as having said.

They said the PML had invited applications for the award of party tickets for the forthcoming general election. The party will receive applications from Aug 6.

Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz, briefing the committee on various issues, referred to the recent visit of President General Pervez Musharraf to Abu Dhabi and Saudi Arabia and said no deal had been finalised with any party. He ruled out any alliance or seat adjustment with any party other than the existing coalition.

He said the general election would be held on time in a fair, free and transparent manner in accordance with the Constitution. He said a decision on military uniform would be taken by the president himself.

He said there was a strong reaction within the party against the provocative remarks made by US presidential candidate Barrack Obama. He said there was zero tolerance for such statements.

He also talked about threats of direct strikes by the US inside Pakistan and said Pakistan would take every step to defend its sovereignty. He said misunderstandings had been removed after the statement of Nicholas Burns and the telephonic conversation between US President George W. Bush and President Gen Musharraf.

Mr Aziz also briefed the members on the Lal Masjid operation and said every effort was made to resolve the issue in a peaceful manner, but the government was forced to launch the operation. He regretted that certain elements were trying to use the issue for political gains. He said 58 people had contacted the government in connection with missing students.

Some key leaders of the party kept away from the meeting, but the party sources said it was not because of any differences and there were other reasons for their absence. The sources said Sardar Farooq Leghari was ill and Humayun Akhtar was out of the country. They said Mir Zafarullah Jamali was no longer in the PML.