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Uniform issue later: Musharraf

ISLAMABAD: Pakistani parliamentarians gave Javed Hashmi, acting president of the Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) and a prominent critic of President Pervez Musharraf, a rousing welcome when took his place in the National Assembly on Monday nearly four years after he was arrested for holding a press conference in its cafeteria criticising the Army.

Mr. Hashmi’s car was surrounded by supporters showering flower petals as he drove into the National Assembly. Opposition members rose and thumped their desks as Mr. Hashmi walked in to the House, accompanied by other parliamentarians of his party. Several hugged him. Even a few members on the treasury benches got up to shake his hand.

Speaker Chaudhary Amir Hussain had to say “no slogans please” as some Opposition members shouted “Go Musharraf Go”, a slogan popularised by the legal community during their four month agitation for the reinstatement of the Chief Justice.

The applause from the Opposition benches continued as Mr. Hashmi, who was released last week on the orders of the Supreme Court, made a fiery comeback speech demanding that the Army end its role in politics, and “go back to the barracks” and to defending the borders.

Mr. Hashmi said the Army’s role in politics had brought down its image in the eyes of the people. “Eight years back people held the Pakistan Army in esteem. But no one respects it today. Who is responsible for this? Not Nawaz Sharif. It is those who are in power today. They are the ones who have conspired against the army,” Mr. Hashmi said.

Pointing to a portrait of Mohammed Ali Jinnah in the House, Mr. Hashmi said the Pakistan founder never wanted the Army to play the role it had taken on now. The PML (N) leader spoke as President Musharraf prepares to take the plunge into re-election for another term in office from the present electoral college, while retaining his military uniform, most likely in September.

In Karachi, the President told leaders of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League that he was constitutionally and legally on solid ground in the matter of his re-election, and that the uniform issue could be discussed later.

Last month, Gen. Musharraf met Pakistan People’s Party leader Benazir Bhutto to secure her support for the re-election. While many reports say the two have arrived at an understanding, Ms. Bhutto maintains her party will oppose Gen. Musharraf’s re-election in uniform.

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