Islamabad: Pakistan's hard-line Islamist alliance the Muthahida Majlis-E-Amal (MMA), which was on the forefront of the agitation to scrap the Constitutional amendments promulgated by President Pervez Musharraf has described him as an "illegitimate President" and said his continuation in office "deprived" the Parliament of any legitimacy.

MMA's Parliamentary leader in National Assembly and head of the Jamat Islami, Qazi Hussein Ahmad said any legislative business transacted by the present Parliament would be devoid of legality as long as an "illegitimate President" was at the helm.

"We insist that this three-year period (of Musharraf's military rule) lacked legitimacy. All steps taken by him during this period must be brought to Parliament for ratification. Unless the bicameral legislature indemnifies his term, it would be without legitimacy," he said in an interview to local daily 'Dawn'.

His comments followed the failure of talks between MMA and the ruling pro-military Pakistan Muslim League-Q (PML-Q), to reach a compromise on Musharraf's political future as well as ratification of the amendments promulgated by him.

MMA insists that Musharraf's election, as President by a controversial referendum last year was un-Constitutional. It offered to get him elected by Parliament and four Provincial Assemblies, if he resigned the post of Chief of Army.

Musharraf however declined to quit the post. According to latest reports he has even declined to give any time frame for stepping down as Chief of Army.

PTI