Hundreds of supporters of secular and religious groups protested across Pakistan yesterday against President General Pervez Musharraf's decision to retain the powerful post of army chief. Holding black flags, about 1,500 protesters marched on a main city road in the southern city of Karachi, while nearly 600 people gathered in the northwestern city of Peshawar. About 350 people took part in a rally in the central city of Multan while 150 people gathered for a rally in the eastern city of Lahore. Small rallies were also held in Islamabad and elsewhere. But the rallies did not attract the thousands of protesters that organisers had hoped for, and none of the country's top opposition leaders attended. Liaquat Baluch, a provincial leader of a six-party opposition coalition called Mutahuda Majlis-e-Amal (MMA) or United Action Forum, said the rallies were successful nonetheless in marking a "black day". The rallies came two days after Musharraf said in a televised address that he will remain army chief until 2007 because it would be "extremely dangerous" for Pakistan to change track as it fights terrorism. The opposition rejected his claim, saying the army general had not honoured his promise to become a civilian president after December 31, 2004. In December 2003, Musharraf struck a deal with the coalition, agreeing to relinquish his army post by the end of 2004 in return for its support for constitutional changes allowing him to dismiss parliament and the prime minister. He was expected to rule as a civilian until 2007, according to a referendum vote in 2002. But Musharraf has subsequently indicated that he would keep his uniform. In November, parliament, which is dominated by pro-Musharraf MP, approved a bill allowing him to remain president and army chief until 2007. In his Thursday address, Musharraf said the opposition must respect the mandate given to him by parliament. At a large ruling party-sponsored public meeting yesterday in the eastern city of Gujrat, the president rejected the opposition's demand that he step down as army chief, saying he didn't hold the post for personal gain. "I like to be in civilian dress, but I am in the uniform because the country needs it," he said. Musharraf asked the opposition to wait for the next parliamentary elections which will be held in 2007. "Right now the country needs (a) good economy, not the rallies." Musharraf also asked the opposition to observe the limits of law, state-run news agency Associated Press of Pakistan reported. It quoted Musharraf as saying his government had introduced real democracy to the country, and asking the opposition to accept the rule of the majority for Pakistan's march toward sustainable development. But the opposition said it would continue protests until Musharraf steps down as army chief and institutes "true democracy". **PHOTO CAPTION*** Supporters of the opposition alliance chant slogans against Pakistani President Gen. Pervez Musharraf, Saturday, Jan. 1, 2005 in Karachi, Pakistan. (AP)