Musharrafs uniform issue Pakistans internal matter: US

matter that well let them debate, White House spokeswoman, Dana Perino said.

Washington, Sep 19: The Bush Administration has refused to take any stand on whether President Pervez Musharraf should quit the army before or after his re-election, and termed it as an internal matter of Pakistan.

"As regards to the Pakistan Supreme Court looking into this matter of the uniform, that is an internal Pakistani matter that we'll let them debate," White House spokeswoman, Dana Perino said.

"What we would like to see is free and fair elections in Pakistan," she added.

The US State Department also expressed similar views, and added that the US wants to see Pakistan succeed as a modern democratic country.

Washington backs "a transparent election process that respects the Constitution, gives Pakistani citizens choices and respects their decisions," the Dawn quoted a State Department official, as saying.

Commenting on Musharraf's counsel statement in the apex court on uniform issue, the State Department official said: "We refer you to the government of Pakistan."

The US media, while reporting Pirzada's statement, noted that so far Musharraf has strongly resisted moves to make him quit the military, which is the main source of his power and whose loyalty in the fight against al Qaeda militants has kept Washington on his side.

Earlier, senior US officials repeatedly reminded Musharraf that he had pledged to settle the uniform dispute before his re-election.

ANI