ISLAMABAD, Jan 25: The government reacted angrily on Friday to an appeal by a group of retired military officers for President Pervez Musharraf to step down

Information Minister Nisar Memon termed the appeal unconstitutional and said he was “dismayed at such lack of understanding of national issues by people who have held important positions in the past”.

On Tuesday, about 100 retired generals, admirals, air marshals, other senior officers belonging to the Pakistan Ex-Servicemen’s Society released a statement urging President Musharraf to resign immediately “in the supreme national interest”.

Mr Memon said that instead of issuing “irresponsible press statements”, the group should focus on improving the welfare of retired military personnel.

—AP