Musharraf says he will quit as army chief by the end of Nov

November 15th, 2007 Ahmad · 1 Comment

Source: Geo News

RAWALPINDI: President Gen. Pervez Musharraf said that he expects to quit as chief of Pakistan’s army by the end of November, heralding a return to civilian.

He told an American news channel that he is quite clear about public aspirations and said the common people are satisfied with his efforts to head off turmoil in the country and also want elections, which have already been announced.

President Musharraf emphasized the emergency rule has been declared to safeguard security and stability at a time when the Pakistani nation is confronting challenges of terrorism and rejected the suggestion that the step has made Pakistan less stable.

” They (the public) want the elections, which we have done (announced). I’m quite clear about what the public wants - they are in sync with whatever is happening —we have to go into transition towards democracy, which we are trying to enter,” he told the channel.

Defending the government’s decisions to enforce law and order he said those who “want to agitate and try to derail the process, the harmony in the society” have to be stopped.

The president reiterated his commitment to independence of the media and reminded that the private electronic channels emerged and expanded under his rule. However, Musharraf regretted that some of the channels were portraying things contrary to reality while the country and its armed forces were engaged in fighting off terrorism and Pakistan was simultaneously making economic strides as reflected in its sustained robust economic growth.

“We are trying to bring responsibility into the media, I don’t want them not to criticize the government or me.I don’t mind that all because I don’t have skeletons in the cupboard, which others may behaving,” he said and also informed the channel about the need for adherence to code of conduct as followed elsewhere in the world.

President Musharraf said that once the Supreme Court passes judgment on validity of presidential election - held last month -he is “determined to take oath as civilian. I will doit immediately after the judgment.”