ISLAMABAD, April 28: The MMA has criticized the decision to 'downsize' the Pakistan army and alleged that it has been done under the US pressure.

Talking to Dawn here on Wednesday, MMA's deputy parliamentary secretary Hafiz Hussain Ahmed said: "The US had formally demanded of the government of Pakistan more than once to cut down its defence expenses to which the rulers have now responded positively".

He, however, expressed the hope that the decision may not see the light of the day, for its implementation was scheduled for August when the 'winds of change' usually ran across the country.

Hafiz Hussain Ahmed said a 'false' impression was being given by the army establishment that after engaging India in CBMs Pakistan's eastern borders had become safe. But, he pointed out, the army had failed to understand that the country's western borders had become more vulnerable than ever in presence of coalition troops across the border and "an aggressive posture adopted by Kabul against us".

The MMA leader feared that the downsizing would increase unemployment as bat-men retired from the army would add to the growing number of the unemployed in the country.

In reply to a question, he said the PPP-Patriots would be forced to merge with the PML-Q. He said the issue of electing a new president of the MMA would come up in the next meeting of the alliance's supreme council to be held shortly.