Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf has indicated that he may continue both as the president and the army chief till at least 2007 to avoid political destabilisation in the country.
Asked in an interview published today in the Dawn newspaper 'why can't he work without uniform as the President?' Musharraf said, "Well, I can. But it is the perception thing. If there is a perception that I have become weak, there can be political destabilisation."
Noting that the army was involved in an anti-terrorism campaign, which required courage and guts, he said, "...Can you use the army in the campaign against terror if you are no more the army chief? Then you look over your shoulders and worry that this can happen or that can happen. So, continuity and sustainability of the policies will be impacted. I believe that if we have the unity of authority, both in the army and the civil bureaucracy, till 2007, it will be very good. So that in 2007 we can have fair and impartial elections. A balanced democracy is established. Then I could step down".
As to when did he see that happening, the general said, "At that time. But I cannot put a timeframe on it."