Ex-Army pals plan sit-in dharna to force Musharraf to vacate Army House

Islamabad, May 20 : Former top Pakistani army generals who were once close pals of President Pervez Musharraf, have reportedly planned a protest march and a sit-in dharna outside the Army House in Rawalpindi to force Musharraf vacate it for the new Army Chief General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani.

Musharraf had stepped down as Army chief last year, and Gen Kayani had take over. But Musharraf still continues to occupy the official residence of Pakistan Army Chief.

The exact details and schedule of the protest march would be announced later.

The procession to force Musharraf to vacate the Army House would be led by former Army chief Mirza Aslam Beg and Gen (R) Hamid Gul and about 200 retired Army officers will be there.

Gen (R) Ali Quli Khan, the course mate of Musharraf and once the main candidate for the slot of Chief of Army staff, is also expected to take part in the rally.

Ali Quli had fallen victim to palace intrigues as former premier Nawaz Sharif's personal bias against him had helped Musharraf to capture the top slot.

Another ex-Army general, Gen (R) Faiz Chishti has been actively putting pressure on Musharraf to quit the post of Army Chief, reported The News.

Brig (R) Mian Mohammad Mahmud, who is from the first PMA and an organiser of the event, confirmed that the top retired Army generals had decided to stage the long march. Brig Mahmud said that efforts were under way to bring maximum number of Army generals in the demonstration as this issue concerns the reputation of the Pakistan Army.

ANI