On Saturday, Musharraf named ISI chief Eshanul Haq as the successor to General Muhammad Aziz as chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (JCSC) and Karachi Corps Commander, Lieutenant General Ahsan Saleem Hayat, to succeed Vice Chief of Army Staff (VCOAS), General Muhammad Yousaf.

Lt-Gen Ashfaq Kiani was appointed ISI chief to replace Haq.

Following Aziz and Yousaf's retirement this week, "Musharraf would be the last man left in service who had the key role in dismissing the Nawaz Sharif regime," on Oct 12, 1999, said The News.

The Coup in Pakistan

Six other top Pakistani generals were replaced in Saturday's reshuffle, and the new appointments will remove any potential challenge to the Pakistani leader's authority, The Wall Street Journal quoted defense analysts as saying.

"the appointments indicate that Musharraf has decided not take off his uniform," the Journal quoted a Musharraf aide as saying.

'Gen. Musharraf has held the dual roles of president and army chief since June 2001. Last November, he reached an agreement with an alliance of six Islamist political parties to give up his army post in exchange for them approving constitutional amendments that significantly strengthened the role of the president,' the Journal said.

Pointing out that continuing as president and army chief would violate the new constitution, Opposition leaders have threatened to launch a nationwide agitation if Musharraf reneges on his pledge to step down as army chief by December 31.

If Musharraf did shed not his uniform by December 31, he would be liable for the death punishment, said the Deputy Opposition Leader in the National Assembly, Liaquat Baloch, who heads the Jama'at-e-Islami.

Even `Uncle Sam' (United States) would not be able to save the President from the capital punishment, he warned.

The newly promoted generals - Haq and Hayat - are key associates of Musharraf in his on-going US-led war against terror, said The News.

As ISI chief, Haq "has put in extraordinary effort to pursue the onslaught against so-called Al Qaeda", it said. Haq has superseded at least seven Lt Generals, while Gen Hayat is listed as number four in the army's seniority hierarchy.

Hayat, who is said to be the second after Musharraf on Al Qaeda's hit list, narrowly escaped a terrorist attack on his convoy earlier this year.

More reports from Pakistan