ISLAMABAD, March 20: The orders of the General Headquarters under which all army officials performing civil duties would stop wearing uniform by March 31 do not apply to President Gen Pervez Musharraf , Inter-Services Public Relations Director-General Maj-Gen Shaukat Sultan told Dawn on Saturday.

The ISPR chief said the president would retire from the army by Dec 31 and till then he would continue to wear his army uniform even while fulfilling his presidential responsibilities.

"The president's statement is very clear that he will leave the office of the chief of army staff by the end of 2004, therefore, there is no question that he will continue to wear his uniform after that date," he said.

He said the orders issued by the GHQ pertained to army officials deputed in civil departments on secondment basis.

Maj-Gen Sultan agreed that the president had attended two public functions in civil dress - the dinner he hosted for delegates of Pakistan Development Forum on Friday and a function organized in connection with the International Women's Day on Saturday. But, he said, it did not have any link with the GHQ's orders.