Islamabad: Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf would consider by the end of next year Opposition parties' request to step down as the Chief of Army Staff, provided they agreed to back his Constitutional amendments and help him get elected as President by Parliament and provincial Assemblies, a top Pakistan Muslim League – Quaide Azam (PML-Q) leader said.

Musharraf wants to stay as the Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) at least until October 2004 and then consider as to whether and when he will put off his uniform, president of ruling PML-Q Chowdhury Shujat Hussain said on March 21 during a meeting with Opposition Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA) leader Maulana Fazlur Rehman.

Hussain told Rehman that Musharraf would consider to leave the post, provided MMA agreed to help him get elected through Parliament and provincial Assemblies and back his controversial amendments.

The meeting was held to discuss a compromise formula to end Opposition agitation over Musharraf's Constitutional amendments, which gave him more powers, local daily 'The Nation' reported.

Media reports also said Musharraf met senior MMA leader and chief of Jamaat-e Islami Qazi Hussain Ahmad on March 21, but the details were not disclosed.

Under the 1973 Constitution, the President has to be elected by Parliament and provincial Assemblies, but Musharraf got himself elected for five years by a referendum held in April 2002. His referendum, however, has been legalised through the legal framework order (LFO) promulgated by Musharraf ahead of last year's general elections.

PTI