PESHAWAR, Sept 15: The NWFP assembly on Wednesday adopted a resolution calling upon Gen Pervez Musharraf to quit either the post of army chief or the presidency by Dec 31, 2004.

The resolution, seen as a political retort to a pro-uniform resolution passed by the Punjab assembly early this week, was tabled by Abdul Akbar Khan of the People's Party Parliamentarians. It was supported by 55 lawmakers and opposed by 14.

The leader of opposition, Shahzada Gustasap, opposed the resolution, but Israrullah Khan Gandapur of the PPP (Sherpao) ignored the party line and voted for it. Moving the resolution, Akbar Khan criticized the Punjab assembly for urging the president not to quit his army post and called its resolution a subversion of the constitution.

He said that under the Article 63 of the constitution, Gen Musharraf was bound to quit one of the posts he was holding. The ruling Pakistan Muslim League (Q) and the PPP (Sherpao) opposed the resolution and accused the opposition of making an issue out of a non-issue.

Qazi Mohammad Asad Khan of the PML said it was improper to criticise the Punjab assembly for passing the resolution on the issue of uniform. Speaker Bakhat Jehan Khan presided over the session.

Earlier, speaking on a point of order, Maulana Amanat Shah of the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal said it was the controversial resolution of the Punjab assembly which prompted Mr Akbar Khan to table the resolution.

The house referred a privileged motion, jointly moved by Makhdoom Mureed Kazim and Jamshed Khan of the PPP; Nighat Orakzai of the PML, Goran Saran Lal of the MMA and Anwar Kamal Khan of the PML-N to the standing committee for members privileges.

Mr Akbar Khan also tabled an adjournment motion seeking legal action against district revenue officers and contractors for unilaterally increasing prices of land across the province.