ISLAMABAD, OCT 5, SPA -- President General Pervez Musharraf has reiterated his commitment to doff military uniform between October 6 to November 15 this year, and categorically said it was the right time for transition towards complete democracy. One has to rationalize that you have to after all one day get into transition towards complete democracy...and the complete democracy where a president is without uniform. I think this is the right time for this transition , Musharraf said in an interview with Dawn News television. About the date of leaving his military post, he said, he has given in writing that November 15 was the last date (for leaving the army slot) and, adding, before that it is my option. The president said that remaining in uniform beyond 2004 was necessitated by the domestic and regional environment at that time. He, however, added that there is a difference between 2003 or 2004 and 2007 , as there was no constitutional or legal compulsion on him to remove the uniform at that time, as he was allowed to hold dual offices by November 15. Asked as if he thinks that there was a qualitative change in the situation and keeping the two posts was no longer necessary, Musharraf said, Yes I think so . He, however, added the biggest dictate for leaving the post of army chief was the legal and constitutional dictate. The president said that with the country passing through difficult times domestically and regionally and fighting terrorism and extremism, it was important (during the last few years) that a president remained in uniform. He said the challenges faced by the country in last few years such as the earthquake, recent floods as well as the Sukkur barrage, which was almost going to be washed off, proved value of a president in uniform. Musharraf said it is always good that there is unity between the President, the Prime Minister and the Army Chief. If there is harmony among them, it will add to the strength , he said and mentioned the pre-1999 periods when the Prime Minister and Army Chief used to be in confrontation, with the President and Prime Minister also in confrontation. We should go for a change where the Prime Minister, the President and the Army Chief should work in harmony. Musharraf said there was a history of wrong things, adding, but he being an accommodative person, would like to undo the wrong history and he was very capable of undoing it. I can function with anyone. I don t believe in confrontation. I believe in taking people along. I have always done it and I will succeed in doing this. The president said he has the capabilities and was able to work with any prime minister. Therefore I have no reason to believe that there will be any confrontation between the President and the Prime Minister. About opposition s attitude of not accepting him even as a civilian president, he said, democracy is always the sense of the people, sense of the majority, and I think that the sense of people is with me. He said the majority of Pakistanis are represented by the ruling coalition today. They want me; they are my supporters, so the majority of Pakistanis are my supporters. The president rejected the view that there was any political vacuum in the country and said, with a majority of people sitting in the National Assembly, Senate and the Provincial Assemblies there was no political vacuum. There is a minority, which is opposing and creating turmoil, as against the majority of people who are with him. Musharraf admitted that some opinion polls show his popularity graph going down, but added that if anyone says that I am unpopular I do not agree with it. He said there was no problem of his legitimacy, as the two third majority in the parliament had allowed him to hold dual offices in 2002. he said politics for him was not a personal issue and he has no lust for power and authority. The president said after having remained in power for such a long time it would have been easier for him to come on television and announce that he was quitting. However, he said it would not have been good for the country and smooth transition of power. If people want me to continue what do you need more. Musharraf said parliament with a majority has allowed him to hold the dual offices of the President and the Army Chief. Musharraf said continuity of policies is important for the success of a country and gave the example of China and Malaysia. Continuity of policies is key to development and progress. Continuity is always good. --SPA www.spa.gov.sa/488258