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Musharraf's army chief term extended
10/06/2001
By MUNIR AHMAD ISLAMABAD, Pakistan — President Pervez Musharraf, who seized power in a coup,
has extended his term as Pakistan's army chief after obtaining approval from top
generals and cabinet members, a government spokesman said Saturday. Gen. Rashid Quereshi said Musharraf will continue to hold the powerful
position of army chief indefinitely ``in the largest interest of the country.''
Musharraf, a general who came to power in a bloodless military coup by
toppling the elected government of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in October 1999,
was required by Pakistani law to retire from the army on Saturday after
completing a three-year term as the army chief. Musharraf has been praised by Western nations, including the United States,
for supporting international efforts to track down the terrorists behind the
Sept. 11 attacks on New York and the Pentagon. The United States has lifted sanctions imposed on Pakistan after the military
takeover. Britain and other European nations have also promised increased aid.
Musharraf decided to side with Western nations despite fierce opposition from
militant Muslims. By doing so, he risked the stability of his government and
triggered protests in some of Pakistan's larger cities. Besides being president and army chief, Musharraf also is chairman of the
National Security Council, which advises the government on policy. Pakistan gained independence from British rule in 1947. The military has
ruled it for more than half the time since, and successive elected governments
were thrown out of power on charges of corruption and misrule. The 1999 military coup was triggered when Sharif tried to fire Musharraf. The
army refused Sharif's orders and overthrew his government. Musharraf accused Sharif of corruption and undermining the constitution. Sharif was convicted of kidnapping, hijacking and abuse of power for ordering
the hijacking of a plane carrying Musharraf. He was freed from prison late last
year and sent to exile in Saudi Arabia. Musharraf has vowed to revive the country's ailing economy and return this
poor South Asian nation of 140 million people to democracy by October 2002.
Associated Press Writer