ISLAMABAD, Sept 17: Former prime minister Benazir Bhutto has questioned the legality of the announcement made by the government that President Gen Pervez Musharraf will continue as president and chief of army staff.

In a statement on Friday, the PPP chairperson said the military chiefs were part of the military bureaucracy, which was different from political administration. She said the vesting of military bureaucracy and political administration in one individual reflected a country without a constitution, political system, rules, laws or due process. "It boded ill for a nuclear country to be without a political system based on the rule of law."

She said the handpicked administration of Shaukat Aziz, in its first meeting on Wednesday, claimed that the constitution allowed a military chief to simultaneously hold the position of the president. It adversely affected the image of the armed forces, giving the wrong impression that none of the other officers were worthy of holding the post of army chief.

Ms Bhutto said it also reflected poorly on the international image of Pakistan as a country run by a military dictator. "It was a sad day for Pakistan that the military chief broke his solemn oath to the nation and the parliament to take off his uniform."

She said it was in the best national interest that the country moved onto the path of democracy. She maintained that resolution of social issues, including those of women's rights, literacy and health, rested with a democratic political system.

Following an agreement with the MMA, Gen Musharraf, in a nationally-televised speech on December 24, 2003, had said: "After giving it a serious thought, I have decided to give up my uniform before Dec 31, 2004 for creating political harmony in the country. I will select the date myself within this period".

Ms Bhutto noted that the retention of the office of army chief by the president would be violative of Article 244 of the Constitution, barring members of the armed forces from taking part in politics.

She said the real strength of the federation was in its proud 150 million people. To insist on relegating all power in one individual based on the strength of the army, as opposed to the Constitution, negated democratic principles and the very promise of good governance that Gen Musharraf had initially made.