'I'll quit only after Pak becomes stable Democracy'
Saturday, September 27 2003 15:54 Hrs (IST)
Islamabad: Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf, under intense pressure from Opposition Legislators to
quit as Army Chief, has said he would do so only after turning the country into a "stable Democracy".
"I do understand this is not Democratic and I've said this very openly in Pakistan...but under the present
circumstances of turmoil in the region, internationally and internally, there is a requirement of stability
and unity of command that I am providing," Musharraf told the Canadian Parliament's Foreign Affairs
Committee at Ottawa on September 26.
"The moment the Democratic structure stabilises, I will remove the uniform," local media quoted him as
saying.
Musharraf claimed most Legislators wanted him to stay on as Army Chief.
On Jammu and Kashmir, Musharraf said Pakistan stood for a peaceful resolution of the dispute but it
could not be "rolled under the carpet". He said India and Pakistan would have to resolve the issue
through composite dialogue.
Musharraf also said his country was playing a pivotal role in the fight against terrorism.
"We are carrying out the fight against terrorism in all dimensions and aspersions against Pakistan in the
context of our Western (Afghan) border are totally wrong," he said, adding Pakistan had acted against
al-Qaida and Taleban.
Musharraf said Pakistan was also fighting religious extremism within the country and had taken over the
inaccessible tribal regions bordering Afghanistan.
PTI
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