Hundreds Protest President’s Army Role
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Hundreds of opposition supporters protested across Pakistan, denouncing President Gen. Pervez Musharraf’s decision to retain the powerful post of army chief.
About 1,500 protesters marched in the southern port city of Karachi, and nearly 600 people gathered in the northwestern city of Peshawar. Smaller rallies were held in Multan, Lahore, the capital, Islamabad, and elsewhere.
The rallies occurred two days after Musharraf went on national television to explain why he was keeping the post, saying it would be “extremely dangerous” for Pakistan to change track as it fights terrorism.
The opposition rejected his claim, saying the army general, who came to power in a coup, had not honored his promise to become a civilian president after Dec. 31, 2004.
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