President General Pervez Musharraf will remain the army chief, Information Minister Sheikh Rashid announced on Wednesday, even though the general had pledged to relinquish the post this year. The government has taken a decision that "the president stay as army chief", Rashid said at a news conference.
"I think there is no need to amend the Constitution," he said, dismissing demands by the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal that Musharraf's continuation as army chief while remaining the president would be unconstitutional.
To a question, Sheikh Rashid said that the president could keep the two offices as was also provided under the 17th Amendment.
The PML, he said, has also decided that the president should keep the two posts, in the prevailing circumstances. The minister said the Punjab Assembly has passed a unanimous resolution in favour of President to keep the two posts. A resolution in the President's favour would soon be moved in the National Assembly, he added.