Musharraf still politically relevant: Defence Minister

Lahore, Apr 29 : Pakistan Defence Minister Chaudhry Ahmad Mukhtar has said that though most of Pakistanis didn't want Pervez Musharraf to continue as President, but he still remained "politically relevant".

He said that it would be premature to discuss Musharraf's removal from office. Mukhtar reportedly said that the majority of Pakistanis did not want Musharraf to remain in power, but conceded that the president retained a certain political relevancy. "Therefore, this issue should not be raised at present, as he can be sent home when the situation improves," the Daily Times quoted Mukhtar as saying.

Declaring that he did not know the President "personally", the defence minister said that Musharraf still enjoyed the support of the Army.

About the constitutional package to be tabled by the PPP-PML-N coaltion government, he said the package would accompany the restoration of the judiciary, and would pertain to judges' salaries, their oath-taking and selection procedure, but not to their tenure.

ANI