May 15, 2003	Thursday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 12, 1424

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NEW DELHI, May 14: Visiting Pakistani parliamentarians on Wednesday blamed politicians for “inviting” army rule in the country, resulting in “mismanagement.”

Civilian rule in Pakistan had failed to meet expectations of the people due to excessive corruption and the army had to intervene, the news agency quoted MNA M. P. Bhandara as saying in Kolkata.

Mr Bhandara was asked why the army had a “stranglehold” on Pakistani politics.

Three MNAs, Mr Ishaq Khan Khakwani, Mr Bhandara and Ms Shakila Rashid, were interacting with a group of intellectuals here in a programme organised by the Pakistan-India People’s Forum for Peace and Democracy.

According to PTI, leader of the Pakistani delegation Mr Khakwani said that the “frequent interruptions” by the army had led to “mismanagement in the country.”

Describing Pakistan as being a “traumatised” nation, Mr Bhandara said that the country had adopted what he called a defensive psyche, particularly after 1971.

Mr Bahndara said that the people of Pakistan wanted to have fraternal relations with the people of India, adding that the Pakistani team was trying to ease the tension between the two countries, PTI said.