Joining the campaign by pro-military politicians in favour of President Pervez Musharraf, Pakistan Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz on Thursday said it was in the country's interest that the general continued to hold both the presidency and the post of the army chief.
As the debate between ruling PML-Q and the opposition parties over Musharraf's army uniform heated up, Aziz, the banker-turned prime minister who took over the top job last month, said there was no legal hurdle for the president to continue as army chief after December, 2004.
"It is my desire and the country's interest that the president should not shed uniform," he was quoted as saying by the local TV networks after he inaugurated a highway connecting Islamabad with North West Frontier Province (NWFP).
"There is no hurdle in President keeping uniform. In case of any problem we will bring about an act of parliament," he said, adding that it is for Musharraf to take a final decision in this regard.
Aziz's comments followed a resolution passed by the opposition Muttahida Majlis-e Amal (MMA)-dominated NWFP provincial Assembly yesterday asking Musharraf to honour his last year's commitment to quit the post of army chief by December 2004.
The NWFP resolution came as the country's biggest Punjab provincial assembly earier this week urged Musharraf not to shed his uniform.
The Sindh Assembly is also expected to pass a similar resolution along with the country's Parliament
before Musharraf leaves for US later this week to take part in the UN General Assembly session.
Information Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed also said the government believed that Musharraf should continue to hold both posts as the country faced a variety of threats, specially from terrorists. "This is the desire and demand of the whole nation," he told CNN.
The president made no agreement with anybody that he would keep one portfolio, Rashid said, adding that the prevailing circumstances in Pakistan compel him to carry on with both the positions.
He said mostly the people are in favour that in such circumstances and environment Musharraf should continue with both the portfolios.
Rashid said the Punjab assembly adopted its resolution with a large majority that he should continue with both the portfolios. The other provincial assemblies are also going to pass such a resolution, he added.
The president, he said, has also decided that he would continue with both the portfolios.
The minister said Musharraf is committed to root out terrorism from the society and nobody can change his will. Musharraf has survived life attempts twice this year but he is resolved to carry on with the anti-terrorism drive, he said.
This is Musharraf's firm opinion and commitment that he would finish terrorism in the country and would not allow anybody to use Pakistan as a base for terrorism, he said.
To a question, Rashid said the democracy in the country is functioning properly with all the institutions in place.
There is a free press in the country and in two provinces the opposition parties are in power, he said.