What is the significance of Musharraf stepping down as chief of the military?

One of the big issues in Pakistan is the opposition demand that President Musharraf should give up his position as head of the military.



I don't understand why this is significant. If he were to step down as head of the military, wouldn't he still have direct responsibility for the military in his role as president? Wouldn't he have exactly the same power whether he was in uniform or not?



Thanks.What is the significance of Musharraf stepping down as chief of the military?Remember, Benazir was president and supposedly was over the military, yet Musharraf grabbed power by using his position as head of the military to stage a coup. So should he remain in charge of the military and loses in the election to Benazir

Bhutto then what's to prevent him from staging another coup to remove her from power AGAIN... he's already put her under house arrest at least twice since her return. No elected president would feel comfortable with him in charge of the military, it's filled with his top loyalists and he would have too much power, including over the nuclear apparatus.



Likely by now, Musharraf has figured out a win to win the election and has handpicked a loyal head of the military that he'll appoint as soon as he takes off the uniform.What is the significance of Musharraf stepping down as chief of the military?If he were to step down as militray chief before the planned elections (Jan 2008); and if Bhutto wins the elction, Pakistan would then have a Prime Minister as head of state to restore the democratic institutions and scrap the Provisional Constitutional Order (PCO) that Musharaf erected when he grabbed power in 1999. if Benazir wins, he loses everything - no presidency, no army chief role. January is a long time in Pakistan politics.What is the significance of Musharraf stepping down as chief of the military?US is now dealing with the next levels in military. US feels it is better to divide and control. The war on terror can be dealt with through next levels of military directly and diplomacy can be dealt with Butto. That way, we can have a better control of what is happening...Now we have Mush as a big wall blocking both war and diplomacy.