PESHAWAR, Jan 2: President of his own faction of the Pakistan People's Party and Federal Interior Minister Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao has termed the opposition's drive against the president's uniform a complete failure.

Speaking after the inauguration of his party's secretariat in Charsadda on Sunday, he said the masses had rejected the MMA's call for observing a 'black day' by giving a poor response to it. The people had endorsed the president's decision to retain the COAS post.

The MMA had started its anti-uniform campaign to derive political mileage and was not sincere with the people's cause, he added. Mr Sherpao said the opposition alliances were trying to destabilize the democratic set-up in the country.

He praised Maulana Samiul Haq, chief of his own faction of the JUI, for keeping himself aloof from the MMA's agitation and hoped that other saner elements in the alliance would follow suit.

He said the president's uniform was essential for the continuation of reforms introduced by him, which would pave the way for economic and political stability in the country.

He contended that parliament had empowered the president to retain both the offices and he had not taken the decision on his own. It was the decision of the majority and the minority should accept it, he added.

He said the economic and political reforms introduced by the government had steered the country out of a crisis and it was the need of the hour to keep these policies on course to bring economic prosperity.

The government policies had improved the image of the country in the comity of nations. "Now Pakistan is recognised as a responsible nation," he said. He added that his party would fully participate in the next local bodies elections.