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Pakistani PM Sharief sacks army chief Musharraf

Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharief today sacked army chief General Pervez Musharraf, state television reported.

Pakistan TV gave no reason for the move, which came less than two weeks after the government said Musharraf would complete his three-year tenure until October 2001.

Lieutenant-General Ziauddin, chief of the Inter-Service Intelligence, has been appointed the new chief of the army staff and promoted to full general, PTV announced.

A government notification on September 29 had said Gen Musharraf would complete his term. The move was aimed at ending speculation about differences between Sharief and the army chief.

That notification came amidst persistent speculation by Pakistani opposition politicians and newspapers that Musharraf could resign following an unexpected American expression of concern last month about a possible fourth military takeover in Pakistan because of political upheaval.

Sharief had appointed Musharraf last year when General Jehangir Karamat quit after making remarks that were seen to be critical of the prime minister, head of an increasingly powerful civilian government.

Sharief has so far forced the resignations of a Supreme Court chief justice, an army chief and a president, and he is still only half-way through his five-year term in office.

Moreover, the courts have sent his most powerful political rival, former prime minister Benazir Bhutto, into exile after convictions on corruption charges.

UNI

ALSO SEE:
Pakistan's secret tapes: excerpts

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