LAHORE, Aug 13: Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) acting chairman Hashim Abdul Halim has "deduced" that President Gen Pervez Musharraf intends to keep himself in military uniform for at least two more years to strengthen the democratic system he restored three years after overthrowing the PML-N government.

Mr Hashim told this to ruling PML MNA Ishaq Khakwani at a dinner the latter hosted for him in Lahore. A three-member CPA delegation led by Mr Hashim had met President Musharraf in Islamabad on Tuesday to exchange views with him on different issues.

The CPA, Mr Khakwani quoted Mr Hashim as saying, was under an explicit impression that Gen Musharraf would take off his uniform. But the impression was negated after the CPA delegation's meeting with the president.

"At no stage was the president categorical on the issue of his uniform", the acting CPA chairman told the PML legislator. According to Mr Khakwani, Mr Hashim understood the problems of the general and was 'compassionate' to him.

The Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal, which joined hands with the ruling coalition to facilitate the adoption of the 17th constitutional amendment, insists that Gen Musharraf is under obligation to take off his uniform by Dec 31.

However, Gen Musharraf and the ruling party don't agree with this interpretation of the amendment. The general said in two recent interviews that the amendment brings him under no obligation to step down as army chief by the end of the year.

Mr Hashim has been the speaker of the West Bengal Assembly for the past 22 years. Mr Khakwani had led a parliamentary delegation to India in April last year, where Mr Hashim was their host.

At the dinner, the lawmaker from Vehari asked him to visit Pakistan again as a representative of his party. Mr Hashim extended an invitation to Mr Khakwani to visit India on a date convenient to him.

Mr Hashim told Mr Khakwani that in Pakistan he had noticed that there was a great disparity between the elite and the ordinary people. He also apprised him how the consultative councils set up by the West Bengal's Communist government were working, specially to settle pretty disputes.

Lawyers, he said, were opposed to these councils but the government was determined to keep them in the field to reduce burden on courts and settle small disputes as quickly as possible. Mr Hashim told Mr Khakwani that though he was speaker, he had been living in a rented flat for the past 22 years because of which he was aware of the common man's problems.