By Xinhua
Islamabad : Some political parties in Pakistan Wednesday said they welcomed President General Pervez Musharraf’s resignation as army chief.
Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, chief of the Pakistan Muslim League-Q (PML-Q) which was the ruling party from 2002 to 2007, welcomed the stepping down of Musharraf as army chief in a peaceful manner. He said his party would continue to support Musharraf as president.
The opposition Peoples Party (PPP), led by former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, also welcomed Musharraf’s resignation.
“It is a positive step,” PPP vice-president Makhdoom Amin Fahim said.
He also called on all political parties to work out a joint strategy after the retirement of Musharraf as army chief.
Musharraf on Wednesday handed over the command of army to Vice-Chief of Army Staff General Pervez Ashfaq Kayani, ending his 46-year military career.
Musharraf achieved a sweeping victory in the presidential polls on Oct 6. He is scheduled to take oath as civilian president Thursday.
The general elections, according to a schedule announced by the Pakistan Election Commission, will be held on Jan 8 next year.