KARACHI, Feb 1: Pakistani President Ghulam Ishaq Khan implicitly warned the Army yesterday against interference in politics after its chiefs open questioning of the government's anti-lraq policy in the Gulf war, reports Reuter .

The official APP news agency quoted the 76-year-old President as saying that the Army's interference in the past had been disastrous .

The repacks to a delegation of notables In Karachi seemed aimed at a speech by Army Chief of Staff General Mirza Aslam Beg on Monday branding the U.S.-led allied attack on Iraq as a Zionist-plot against Muslims.

Beg followed his speech io Army officers with a declaration the next day that Pakistan was neutral In the war. like Iran, despite sending some 11,000 troops to defend Saudi Arabia.

Ishaq Khan said a policy adopted by the government must be Implemented faithfully

He called the Pakistani Army highly disciplined and thoroughly professional and said It was -conscious of the fact that It is not expected lo interfere In political matter*." .

"It also knows from past experience that its interference ends up in raghing but

by all state bodies. "If there arc any deviations, there is parliament to take notice." disaster for democratic process and the country ,' he added.

Widespread pro-Iraq demonstrations have been held In Pakistan since the start of war on January 17, with protesters demanding the return of Pakistani troops.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, talking to reporters Yesterday at the north-western town of Peshawar, ruled out a policy chance and said Beg was stating his personal view.

The military has held power In Pakistan for more than half of ihc 43 years since independence, and the Army Cheif of Staff is one of the most powerful men In the country.

While Sharif was visiting - Peshawar, followers of the right-wing Jamaal-c-lslami Party paraded streets there chanting anti-U.S. and pro-lraql stogans.