September 27, 2002	Friday	Rajab 19, 1423

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HARIPUR, Sept 26: Former NWFP chief minister Sardar Mehtab Ahmad Khan has said the military regime has gone an extra mile in its love affair with the US.

He said that in order to strengthen its grip on power, the regime collaborated with the US in Afghan operation, which resulted in the killing of “50,000 innocent Muslims.”

This he said while speaking to the participants of a corner meeting held for his party candidate from PF-50 Haripur II, Yusuf Ayub Khan, near Behri Bandi here on Wednesday night.

Sardar Mehtab accused the government of mortgaging the national interest with the United States by giving its forces access to certain airbases in the country.

Quoting from press statements, he said the regime had locked up all the mosques and Madaris in areas adjoining the airbases where US marines were staying.

He exhorted the rulers to refrain from committing such steps “which could harm the very existence of the state.”

The former chief minister termed the PML (QA) a “B team” of the government and expressed his confidence that the PML (N) renegades would never muster the public support as the masses had discerned their true intentions.

He urged the voters to vote for “lion”, the symbol of his PML (N).

Yusuf Ayub, a former minister and candidate for PF-50, was sanguine his party would sweep the elections.