LAHORE, July 12: Most of the political parties have criticized President Gen Pervez Musharraf’s address to the nation on Friday.

Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) chief coordinator Ahsan Iqbal said since Gen Musharraf himself had accepted the utility of an interim government, he should set up one immediately to ensure free and fair elections. In his opinion what the general said in his speech clearly showed that he wanted to keep democracy subservient to the armed forces. He said what the general said about the political role of the army amounted to violation of constitution and would lead to confrontation between the people and the army.

He said the working of executive and legislature could be improved by strengthening the democratic institutions. Instead of pushing the nation towards chaos, he said, Gen Musharraf should resign as army chief and not become party to the elections. Otherwise, he said instead of holding elections the general should appoint the prime minister and assembly members through an ordinance.

Mr Iqbal said Gen Musharraf had made allegations against politicians of which the chief election commissioner should take notice. Politicians, he said, should also be given time on PTV to answer the allegations.

PML (Quaid-i-Azam) leader Syed Fakhar Imam said there was a need to maintain balance in the powers of the president and the prime minister. At present, he said, the tilt seemed to be in favour of the president. About the need to amend the constitution, he said, the matter should be left to an elected parliament.

About the composition of the National Security Council, he said more civilians should be inducted in it. He was of the view that key federal ministers should also be given representation in the NSC which, he asserted, should be a body dealing with the security of the country.

Mr Imam said the federal structure of the constitution should remain intact. Elections, he said, should be free and fair and foreign observers should be invited to monitor them.

Jamaat-i-Islami amir Qazi Husain Ahmad said the announcement of National Security Council amounted to giving the army a permanent role in politics which was in violation of the general’s oath as a soldier.

He said the president’s power to sack the prime minister, instead of parliament, would lead to intrigues. The JI chief said that the general was taking the country to a presidential system which would be a setback to the federal parliamentary system.

Millat Party secretary-general Muhammad Ali Durrani congratulated the president for agreeing to the annulment of the 14th constitutional amendment. He said with the scrapping of the amendment, the new assembly would be composed of “living beings” instead of deaf and dumb people. He supported the steps announced by the general to ward off military intervention in the future.

Markazi Jamiat Ahle Hadith Pakistan amir Prof Sajid Mir said Gen Musharraf’s speech was a declaration of his plans to impose his rule by the stick. He said it was regrettable that while the army was supposed to serve the nation, the military rulers considered civil governments their servant.