August 29, 2003	Friday	Jumadi-us-Sani 30, 1424

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SUKKUR, Aug 28: Supreme Court Bar Association president Hamid Khan has dispelled the claim of President Gen Pervez Musharraf that the October 2002 election was held under the Legal Framework Order and said it was fought under the election order.

He was talking to journalists after addressing members of the Sindh High Court Bar Association, Sukkur, at the Bar room here on Thursday.

Mr Khan called upon the opposition to protect the Constitution and do not accept the LFO. He said the military rulers had always tampered with the Constitution.

He said the SCBA had presented its 14-point charter to the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal for safeguarding the Constitution.

He said the LFO was the creation of one man and it had no legal sanctity.

The SCBA president said the rulers had raised the Kalabagh dam issue to deviate the attention of the people form the LFO and perpetuate their rule.

He said the SCBA was not opposed to discussion on LFO if held in parliament. He said President Musharraf was cheating the opposition by prolonging talks. He said the people should raise their voice for their fundamental rights.

Mr Khan said if President Musharraf also dissolved the assemblies, it would mean that he had inducted a failed system.

He said Gen Musharraf was promising to leave his uniform after one year but he doubted that the president would do so.

Earlier, addressing the Sukkur SHCBA members, the SCBA chief said it was not the time to raise issues like the Kalabagh dam which might create a rift among the provinces.

He called upon the people to beware of the rulers’ designs aimed at creating differences among them. He said the country was facing a serious crisis and the rulers were trying to keep the people tight lipped.

Mr Khan said the military rulers would never transfer the powers to real representatives of the people so they had inducted what he called a dummy prime minister.