Qazi challenges Musharraf's army job

Islamist leader has filed a petition in the SC challenging Musharraf's continuation as army chief after crossing the age of superannuation.

Pakistan's hardline Islamist leader Qazi Hussain Ahmed has filed a petition in the Supreme Court challenging President Pervez Musharraf's continuation as army chief after crossing the age of superannuation.

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The Jamaat-i-Islami chief, who is also the President of Islamist alliance Muthahida Majlis Amal (MMA), pleaded that Musharraf had crossed his age of superannuation in August 2003 and he could not continue his army job after 60 years.

He also sought a court order against Musharraf's tenure as chief of the army staff.

Hussain said Musharraf had rendered himself disqualified to hold the office of the president by "acting against the Constitution, law of the land, betraying the nation, defying the oath, siding with and campaigning for political parties of his liking, dragging the army into politics for his own benefits, and by ridiculing the judiciary".

In his petition, Hussain also contended that despite being a government servant Musharraf was continuously violating the Constitution, law and service rules by addressing public rallies, flouting the rule that a government servant cannot participate in public rallies.

Talking to reporters in Islamabad on Monday, Hussain also regretted that his party as well other alliance partners of MMA extended support to the National and Provincial Assemblies to get Musharraf's constitutional amendments ratified in 2003 to enable him to prolong his stint in uniform.

"It was time the country returned to full fledged democracy and the military returned to its barracks," he said.