Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf is likely to retain the post of army chief after Dec. 31 although he promised to take off the uniform by the end of this year, Dawn reported Thursday.

The cabinet of Prime Minister Shaukaut Aziz at its first meeting Wednesday made it clear that there was no constitutional restriction on Musharraf's remaining the president in uniform.

And Information Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed who briefed the reporters on deliberations of the cabinet meeting and its decisions later said the government had decided Musharraf should stay as army chief beyond Dec. 31 and the president would agree tothis.

Addressing a press conference Wednesday evening, Rashid said Musharraf could keep the post of Chief of Army Staff and the ruling Pakistan Muslim League (QA) had decided that Musharraf should keep the two posts simultaneously in the present situation.

"The president will stay in uniform. There is no need for a constitutional amendment to enable him to continue as army chief. If there is any hurdle, it will be overcome by an act of parliament," said Rashid.

He added that "hopefully, General Musharraf will agree to retain the office of army chief even after Dec. 31."

Musharraf, who took power in a bloodless coup in 1999, made a deal last December with a coalition of conservative Islamic groupsthat he would give up the post of army chief by the end of this year, in return they supported his constitutional amendment, by which Musharraf got the power to dismiss the parliament and prime minister.

In an interview with a TV channel last week, Musharraf indicated that he might retain the post of army chief since the majority of people wanted him to do so.

Source: Xinhua