KARACHI, Jan 7: The Chairman of the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal, Allama Shah Ahmed Noorani, has appealed to the people of Karachi to vote for religious parties in the Jan 15 by-elections.

“The people want a government which can stand the US pressure without compromising the sovereignty of the state,” he said while speaking at a large public meeting in the city on Tuesday.

Criticizing President Pervez Musharraf and his past three-year rule, Allama Noorani said the country was facing both internal and external threats while poverty, unemployment, corruption and price hike were at their height.

“Despite the government’s claim that the economy has been revived, people are committing suicide due to the unbearable price rise,” he said, adding: “The present rulers and their puppets have no right to rule the country anymore.”

“Horse-trading created hurdles in the way of the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal, Allama coming into power,” he said and claimed that the present government had mortgaged national sovereignty to the United States.

“After helping the US in destroying Afghanistan, now it is poised to help them in their aggression against Iraq. —PPI