December 17, 2003	Wednesday	Shawwal 22, 1424

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ISLAMABAD, Dec 16: The Alliance for Restoration of Democracy (ARD) president, Makhdoom Javed Hashmi, declared December 16 as a black day in the history of the country saying that on this day “Pakistan was dismembered owing to the generals’ surrender”.

In a brief encounter with newsmen soon after proceedings in the mutiny case at the District and Sessions Court, Islamabad, on Tuesday, Mr Hashmi said: “A day will dawn when the generals who are weakening the country by following policies against national interest be standing in the dock.”

He vowed not to succumb to the pressure tactics and said he would continue struggle till the restoration of true democracy and Constitution in the country.

Mr Hashmi, who seemed physically weak, said the future of the country rested on the strict adherence and implementation of the Constitution and the rule of law.

In reply to a question, Mr Hashmi expressed the hope that Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal (MMA) would remain part of the joint opposition and the movement against the Legal Framework Order would continue till its logical end.

Later, Mr Hashmi’s daughter, Maimoona Hashmi, objected to the sessions court’s decision to hold the trial against Mr Hashmi in the Adiala Central Jail and said that it was against the concept of an ‘open court’.

“The people have every right to get informed about the development in the case against Mr Hashmi,” she observed.

She said that the venue of the trial was being shifted only to prevent the PML-N workers and supporters from meeting Mr Hashmi.

She also alleged that her father was not being given any facility despite clear orders of the court. Though the court earlier had allowed A-Class to Mr Hashmi, he was still being kept in isolation in some security cell, she added.

“This showed that the government was bent upon victimizing its opponents by openly flouting the directions of the courts,” she alleged. About Sunday’s blast, she said when attempt was being made against the life of President Pervez Musharraf how could the rulers guarantee security to the ordinary citizens.

PML-N leader Saad Rafiq alleged that the executive was dictating the courts.

Those who attended court proceedings included PML-N chairman Raja Zafarul Haq, acting parliamentary leader Chaudhry Nisar Ahmed, former NWFP chief minister Pir Sabir Shah, Chaudhry Tanvir, Saranjam Khan, Ishaq Dar and Siddiqul Farooq.