President Pervez Musharraf would give up his uniform in December after his presidential election, said Pakistans Information Secretary Syed Anwar Mahmood.
Washington, Aug 25 : President Pervez Musharraf would give up his uniform in December after his presidential election, said Pakistan's Information Secretary Syed Anwar Mahmood.
Mahmood's remarks confirmed that Musharraf plans to get himself re-elected from current assemblies in uniform, and would not appoint his successor as Army Chief until the end of the year.
"There is a strong feeling that the coming elections should be a smooth transition of power to the next government. Musharraf would be quitting as the Army's Chief of Staff at the end of the year. He has said so himself," Mahmood told the Washington Times in an interview.
Mahmood said Musharraf's options include naming his intended successor as Vice Chief of Staff, or selecting another three-star general to take over the top post when he leaves in December.
He said that the Pakistan Army has stepped up its campaign against militant strongholds in the NWFP's tribal areas, and added that the government had not totally abandoned its 2006 plan to use local tribal leaders to contain extremists.
"The government wants to use force where that is required, and persuasion where that works. There has to be a mixed approach," Mahmood said.
Musharraf has resisted past efforts to resign his military post, a key base of his power, faces severe challenges holding on to power in the upcoming presidential and parliamentary elections, the Daily Times reported.
Pakistan's opposition parties have been pressing Musharraf to resign his military post in advance of presidential elections that will be held sometime between September 15 and October 15, fearing he would try to stay on if he wins the presidential vote.
ANI