LAHORE, June 11: The Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal has criticized President Gen Pervez Musharraf for what it claims his interference in provincial autonomy by denouncing the NWFP Assembly for adopting Shariat Bill.

MMA vice-presidents Qazi Husain Ahmad and Prof Sajid Mir said the constitution had allowed provinces to do legislation within certain limits. They said the NWFP Assembly had adopted the Shariat Bill while observing these limits and according to recommendations of the Islamic Ideological Council.

Referring to Gen Musharraf’s speech in Kohat on Tuesday, Qazi Husain, who is also amir of the Jamaat-i-Islami, said the Shariat Bill did not force anyone to keep beard and wear veil and shalwar-kameez.

He said there was no division between backward and progressive Islam. “Islam is a complete code of life and can be practised even today as it could be 1,400 years ago.”

He hoped that the NWFP Assembly would soon approve the Hasba Bill, rejecting the ‘unconstitutional’ interference by Gen Musharraf.

Referring to Gen Musharraf’s statement that he would continue to keep the office of the COAS in the national interest, the Qazi regretted that one man had taken hostage the whole nation.

He said Gen Musharraf, instead of restoring the constitution and transferring power to the civilian leaders elected seven months ago, was insisting on not shedding his military uniform.