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Not quitting, says Musharraf

ISLAMABAD: Breaking a long, self-imposed silence since the February 18 elections that brought his political foes to power, President Pervez Musharraf came out before the media on Saturday to deny rumours that he was on his way out but, at the same time, indicated that he was weighing all options.

He told a select group of Pakistani journalists at a televised press conference that he would not step down in the “present situation.” But he indirectly suggested that he might consider doing so, indicating it was up to him to make a decision about his future and that he could not be forced to go.“I am not resigning in the present situation,” he said, scoffing at rumours that the Army had surrounded his house, that he was quitting in 48 hours and a plane was standing by to take him into exile abroad. “I have been elected as the President of Pakistan, constitutionally.”

For nearly two hours, the retired General Musharraf took a range of questions on the political situation.

His “decisions” would be based on two factors. “One, do I have a role to play, and I have to be the judge of this. It will not be based on rumours and speculation on the streets. I will be the judge of whether I still have some value for Pakistan. Secondly, and I would like to emphasise this, I cannot preside over the downfall of Pakistan.”

The Pakistan People’s Party, which has proposed constitutional changes to cut his powers, said Gen. Musharraf’s statements were an implied threat to Parliament.

But Gen. Musharraf asserted that he accepted the supremacy of Parliament, and said only an “unstable” President would use his constitutional power to dissolve the National Assembly.

Gen. Musharraf said if he saw no role for himself, “if I have nothing to contribute, then I’m not the kind to lie around uselessly, I may as well play some golf, relax.”

He would not become a “useless vegetable,” he declared.

“The decision of Parliament is supreme and I accept that. But what I do with myself is my decision alone then,” he said.

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