Pervez Musharraf

In an uncompromising televised address, Musharraf said he would keep the post of army chief of staff -- the source of most of his power -- and that of president, saying it had been mandated by both houses of Parliament.

"I have decided to retain both offices. In my view, any change in internal or external policies can be extremely dangerous for Pakistan," he said.

He accused the opposition of "threatening the democratic process" by trying to make political capital from the matter, calling it a "non-issue for the people of Pakistan."

Musharraf said the country had been on the brink of becoming a "failed state" before he took power in a bloodless coup in October 1999. He stressed the need for continuity in pursuing peace with India and fighting terrorism -- which has angered Islamic hard-liners in the country.

In December 2003, he made a deal with a hard-line Islamic opposition coalition to stand down as army chief by Dec. 31, 2004, in return for its support in a parliamentary vote to give him sweeping constitutional powers to dismiss Parliament and the prime minister.

The Japan Times Weekly: Jan. 8, 2005
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