COAS advises President to resign
RAWALPINDI: Chief of Army Staff, General Ashfaq Pervez Kiyani who called on President Pervez Musharraf here at the Presidential Camp Office on Monday advised him to resign from his office in the backdrop of the situation prevailing in the country, sources said. The COAS told the president that there was political unrest in the country, law and order situation had been deteriorated, suicide attacks were a matter of routine and loss of innocent lives was continuing in large number.
Gen Kiani told him that after the general elections, a new hope had arisen in the country that the situation would improve. The COAS advised him that in the circumstances, confrontation between political parties, the government and the Aiwan-i-Sadr was not in favour of the country, therefore, he should immediately resign in the larger interest of the country.
In this regard when a responsible official of the ISPR was contacted, he expressed ignorance about it. However, a highly responsible official of Pak Army told this agency on the condition of anonymity that the COAS chaired a high level meeting in GHQ Monday in which he reviewed the situation facing the country and consulted the senior Army officers. After the meeting, he went to meet the president in the Presidential Camp office here and advised him to resign.
According to responsible sources, President Musharraf consulted his close aides and senior officials after meeting with the COAS. The sources close to Aiwan-i-Sadr said that the president would resign within next 72 hours. After his resignation, Speaker Ch Amir Hussain would assume the office of the president. Under the constitution, the chairman of Senate becomes the acting president. However, as the Senate chairman is currently acting as caretaker prime minister, the National Assembly speaker would resume the office of the acting president.
The sources said that the Army had asked the president to resign in view of deteriorating law and order situation, increasing suicide attacks and terrorist attacks. The sources further said that the Quaid of PML (N) was also reluctant to taking of oath by ministers belonging to his party in case they joined the coalition government.
It was also being considered to give the president a safe passage. Earlier a handout issued regarding the meeting of the COAS with the president said that President Pervez Musharraf has lauded the professionalism, devotion to duty and sacrifices being rendered by Pakistan Army in safeguarding the country from external and internal threats. The President appreciated the role of the Army for ensuring complete security during the recently concluded general elections in the country.
He also appreciated the measures which are being taken by the Pakistan Army in combating terrorism along the Pak-Afghan border region, in the FATA and Swat.The Chief of Army Staff briefed the President about the ongoing operations against terrorism. He exchanged views on the internal security situation in the country with particular reference to the role of Pakistan Army deployed on internal security duties.-SANA
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