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Qazi asks Musharraf to quit as army chief
Islamabad, Nov 12: Leader of Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA) Qazi Hussain Ahmad has asked President General Pervez Musharraf to quit as army chief and become President via 1973 constitution.
Islamabad, Nov 12: Leader of Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA) Qazi Hussain Ahmad has asked President General Pervez Musharraf to quit as army chief and become President via 1973 constitution.
''During a one-on-one meeting, spanning over more than two hours, Qazi Hussain Ahmad told General Musharraf that the MMA would never compromise on its demands for restoration of 1973 constitution, withdrawal of controversial LFO and acceptance of Musharraf's presidency only if he left the army chief office and contested for presidential slot in line with the constitution,'' an MMA spokesman was quoted as saying by the news. ''We will support Musharraf as president in parliament if he resigns as the army chief and comes thorough procedure followed by former presidents Ghulam Ishaq Khan and Farooq Ahmed Khan Laghari,'' the spokesman added.
He said the Jamaat-e-Islami and the central MMA leader during the meeting termed the National Security Council (NSC) and extra powers of the army chief ''unconstitutional and illegal'' and demanded withdrawal of constitutional changes.
Ahmad enlisted areas where the MMA or politicians could not compromise and where an understanding could be reached between the government and political parties. Talks between General Musharraf and Ahmad yesterday came when final round of talks between MMA and PML-QA were due.
However, it is believed the meeting was an initiative by Gen Musharraf fore a first-hand information about political deadlock and reservations and demands of the MMA before forming a government.
''The crux of the meeting is that issues like current political deadlock, LFO, constitutional position of the President and formation of the government were discussed in the meeting,'' said the spokesman, briefed by Ahmad following his meeting with Musharraf. Bureau Report
''During a one-on-one meeting, spanning over more than two hours, Qazi Hussain Ahmad told General Musharraf that the MMA would never compromise on its demands for restoration of 1973 constitution, withdrawal of controversial LFO and acceptance of Musharraf's presidency only if he left the army chief office and contested for presidential slot in line with the constitution,'' an MMA spokesman was quoted as saying by the news. ''We will support Musharraf as president in parliament if he resigns as the army chief and comes thorough procedure followed by former presidents Ghulam Ishaq Khan and Farooq Ahmed Khan Laghari,'' the spokesman added.
He said the Jamaat-e-Islami and the central MMA leader during the meeting termed the National Security Council (NSC) and extra powers of the army chief ''unconstitutional and illegal'' and demanded withdrawal of constitutional changes.
Ahmad enlisted areas where the MMA or politicians could not compromise and where an understanding could be reached between the government and political parties. Talks between General Musharraf and Ahmad yesterday came when final round of talks between MMA and PML-QA were due.
However, it is believed the meeting was an initiative by Gen Musharraf fore a first-hand information about political deadlock and reservations and demands of the MMA before forming a government.
''The crux of the meeting is that issues like current political deadlock, LFO, constitutional position of the President and formation of the government were discussed in the meeting,'' said the spokesman, briefed by Ahmad following his meeting with Musharraf. Bureau Report