ISLAMABAD (AFP) - Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf will remain the army chief, Information Minister Sheikh Rashid announced, 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 Wednesday.
"I think there is no need to amend the constitution," he said, dismissing demands by powerful Islamist groups that Musharraf's continuation as army chief while remaining the president would be unconstitutional.
Musharraf, who seized power in a bloodless coup in October 1999, said last year he would give up his military post by the end of December this year under a deal reached with the Islamist Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA) alliance.
In return, the Islamists agreed to support a parliamentary vote to approve controversial changes to the constitution which empowered the president to sack the government and to dissolve the elected parliament.
The Islamist parties had paralyzed parliament for almost a year before the deal on Musharraf's plans were reached with the ruling Pakistan Muslim League.
Musharraf said last week that 96 percent of Pakistanis wanted him to abandon his pledge to become a civilian ruler.
He said he would make a decision based on the constitution, popular demand and national stability.