KARACHI, Feb 19: Activists of the Alliance for the Restoration of Democracy (ARD) on Thursday slammed Gen Pervez Musharraf for expressing fears that Pakistan's nuclear facilities and capabilities could be bombed if extremists had their way.

Speaking at different camps set up as part of the ongoing campaign to remove Gen Musharraf, they described Gen Musharraf as 'a security risk' and accused him of holding the whole nation hostage to his personal ambitions and making it subservient to the geo-political and strategic interests of the West. They also burnt his effigies at different camps in the city.

Calling for the early removal of the military ruler, the ARD activists expressed their concern over his recent utterances and handling of the nuclear issue and alleged that he had actually prepared a charge-sheet against Pakistan to please his benefactors.

At one of the camps, on Shah Waliullah Road in Lyari, PPP MNA Sherry Rahman severely criticized Gen Musharraf and claimed that he had surpassed Gen Yahya Khan and Gen Ziaul Haq in perpetuating his personal rule.

Referring to the previous rulers, she observed that one of them had surrendered East Pakistan and the other caused irreparable loss to the country's security. She mentioned the tragedy of Ojheri Camp in this regard.

PML-N leader Mohammad Iqbal Khaksar and others said the country needed leaders like Ms Benazir Bhutto and Mian Nawaz Sharif to avert any catastrophe. At another camp, near Toll Plaza, MNA Sher Mohammad Baloch, Haji Muzaffar Shujra, Sajid Jokhio, Nehal Hashmi, Raheel Iqbal and other leaders maintained that removal of Gen Musharraf was essential for the country's integrity.

Zain Ansari maintained that the time had come to remove those who had usurped power with the help of barrel of the gun and their continuation in power had endangered national security.

They alleged that the policies adopted by the regime posed a threat to Pakistan's nuclear programme for which poor people of this country had made great sacrifices.