FAISALABAD, April 11: Prime Minister Zafarullah Khan Jamali said on Sunday that President Gen Pervez Musharraf had made a promise to shed uniform by Dec 31 and there should be no doubt over this matter.

Talking to reporters at the residence of Chaudhry Asim Nazir, MNA, in Gatwala, some 14km from here, Mr Jamali said it was on record that the president had kept his words.

According to him, the MMA and the ruling coalition had signed an agreement over the issue which was subsequently endorsed by the federal cabinet and "now this is part of the Constitution."

Replying to a question, Mr Jamali said he could not understand why people were raising questions about the president's uniform. "There is a lot of time left before Dec 31 and I do not understand why some defeated elements are raising this settled issue."

When he was told that it were his ministers who had raised the issue, the prime minister did not respond directly. But latter added: "Those who are trying to create confusion in the country over different issues by spreading rumours cannot derive any benefit. People who are raising false alarms to sabotage the democratic system have no interest in resolving the people's problems."

Mr Jamali said that everything was going well. The continuity of policies introduced by President Gen Pervez Musharraf during his tenure as chief executive had put the country on the path of progress and prosperity.

Denying reports about his differences with the coalition partners, the prime minister said all the matters were being handled through consultation and consensus.