Islamabad: Indicating that he would not stick to his promise to quit as Army Chief by the year-end, President Pervez Musharraf today (Sep 6, 2004) claimed that most Pakistanis want him to retain the top post to maintain national stability.

"Ninety six percent (of people) will say do not take off (uniform). You should go and ask this. They will say I should not remove uniform," Musharraf said in an interview to Pakistan's ARY TV channel, which will be telecast tonight (Sep 6, 2004).

"These are things of significant national importance. If my uniform was needed for stability in this I will take that decision then," he said.

Musharraf had last year given a commitment to quit the Army post by December 2004 leading the Islamist alliance Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA) to support his controversial constitutional proposals, Legal Framework Order, and helped the Government ratify them in Parliament.

The Pakistani President said he will take a decision on his uniform according to the constitution. "Now I have to see what people demand, what they think, what are their views, what they want and the second thing, which is very important, we have taken important decisions," he said.

Musharraf said MMA leader Qazi Hussain Ahmed, who has been insisting that the President should quit the uniform knew the constitutional position but was reluctant to admit it publicly.

"I will not seek any amendment to the existing laws on the matter," he said adding that coping with terrorism and resolving the water issue was vital to the country's stability.

On the issue of terrorism, Musharraf said that an upheaval is going on and it will keep going on for some time. "We have to bring it under control".