ISLAMABAD, May 17: The country is passing through a miserable state of affairs in all spheres of public and private life, and under such a situation the debate regarding president's uniform is irrelevant , veteran politician Air Marshal (retired) Asghar Khan said.

He was speaking as chief guest here at a press conference organized by Qaumi Jamhoori Party (QJP) on Monday. Mr Khan said: "The political parties were mainly responsible for the present situation.

Politicians were wasting their time on the president's uniform when nothing would change even if he did give it up. It is the system that needed an overhaul." He said the military had no affair in politics. He disapproved of the military's interference in civilian jobs for which President Musharraf had appointed his generals.

"Every army major or colonel is making future plans and thinking about better posts in civil departments. This is affecting professionalism of the Pakistani army. It seemed unfair that jobs were promised to army personnel at high positions after their retirement," he said.

The QJP leader lamented the failure of the devolution plan. "The devolution of power was a bright idea but due to negligence and inefficiency of authorities the entire plan had become ineffective," he said.

Mr Khan was highly critical of the role and operations of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB). "Thieves responsible for squandering the wealth of the nation had been pardoned by the present government.

Not only did our Pakistani people knew of the corrupt pasts of corrupt politicians and voted them to power but even the government accepted them as representatives of the people of Pakistan," he added.

Expressing distress over the poor law and order situation in the country, Mr Khan found it hard to believe that the police were involved in sectarian violence in Karachi and during Ashura processions in Quetta.

"One can say prayers in peace and without fear in India where there had never been a need for security guard standing outside the mosques." However, Mr Khan did appreciate the government's desire to end Hudood laws.

Welcoming the idea of putting an end to Hudood laws, the QJP leader appreciated President Musharraf's initiative to deal with the problem of Hudood laws through which he believed great injustice had been caused.

He also appreciated the government's step to encourage representation of women in the parliament to sort out problems the women in Pakistan faced. Speaking about Pakistan and India's relationship, Mr Khan said both BJP and the Congress party desired that relations between both neighbours improved.

"The government of Pakistan should make best endeavours to work out ways to make good friends with India."