KARACHI, April 30: The central information secretary of the Pakistan Peoples Party, Taj Haider, on Friday called for downsizing in the senior ranks of the army as removal of 50,000 troops would add to the number of unemployed in the country.

In a statement, Mr Haider claimed that retrenchments were being made at a time when defence budget was being greatly increased simultaneously. He wanted to know on what specific items the increased allocations would be used.

There was a direct link between rise in crime and unemployment, he said, adding that many of those who were rendered jobless, indulged in dacoities and killings. He was surprised that the downsizing in the army was taking place at a time when Pakistan had been placed in a situation of defending two-fronts.

Mr Taj Haider alleged that the "military government has been surrendering Pakistan's vital interests in the face of foreign pressures." He demanded that the whole question of country's defence be re-examined in the light of valuable experiences gained in resistance put up by the people all over the world.

He pointed out that while the regular armies have put up hardly any resistance in the face of superior military adversary, the people have refused to surrender and have invariably defeated aggression.