KARACHI, Feb 20: The Alliance for the Restoration of Democracy (ARD) on Friday demanded fresh and impartial elections this year under a caretaker set up, comprising Supreme Court judges.

This demand was spelt out by Sindh chapter of the alliance at a news conference held at the Karachi Press Club at the conclusion of the week-long anti-Musharraf protest campaign through out the country.

Castigating the regime and its policies, especially the President, Gen Pervez Musharraf, the provincial leadership of the ARD, led by Zain Ansari, also distributed a 30-point "white paper" on the government's alleged failings.

Mr Ansari, who was flanked by Haji Muzaffar Shujra, Salim Zia, Sardar Rahim, and other leaders of the ARD component parties, warned that if the rulers failed to honour aspirations of the people, it would not be possible for the political leadership to save establishment from their wrath.

Replying to a question, Mr Ansari said that prior to ARD's rally at Sahiwal, to be held on March 7, its central leadership would meet to decide the future course of its 'Remove Musharraf' campaign.

Hitting hard at Gen Musharraf, the ARD's provincial chief accused him (Gen Musharraf) of making the nation hostage and of threatening the people of Pakistan, if they tried to remove him.

He alleged that Gen Musharraf's remarks about any possible threat to country's nuclear assets, in case it failed to correct its international image, was part of his self-preservation exercise.

Mr Ansari claimed that poverty, unemployment, price hike, lawlessness and injustice had surged to dangerous levels and uncertainty and gloom loomed large in the society owing to the policies pursued by the military regime since 1999.

He claimed that unemployment had surged from 5.9 per cent to 8.9 per cent, while the figure of people living below poverty level had risen from 36.3 million to 52.5 million. Per capita income had also gone down and educated youth were not getting jobs and some of them had even committed suicide.

Mr Ansari also criticized the rising cost of living and frequent increases in tariff of gas, electricity, telephone, petroleum products and other utilities. He also criticized increase in the prices of atta, ghee, sugar, pulses, meat and other essential items.

He alleged that rights of the people had been suppressed through various administrative measures and by violating and defacing the 1973 Constitution and imposing personal rule through the Legal Framework Order (LFO).

The ARD in its "white paper" also alleged that the regime had abandoned its principled stand on Kashmir, based on implementing UN resolutions, and had taken another "U-turn" after revoking its policy for Afghanistan.

He also accused the regime of turning Pakistan into a sanctuary for the US intelligence agencies, who he alleged were allowed unlimited access to airports and other sensitive facilities in the country.

Criticizing the government's policy vis-a-vis the tribal areas, especially in North Waziristan, he alleged that foreign elements were freely moving there, despite government's denial.

Blasting the government for humiliating national heroes who provided the country with the nuclear capability, the ARD alleged that the nuclear programme had been rolled back and the institution of military had been seriously undermined by its deep and prolonged involvement in politics. The ARD also slammed the regime for promoting 'lotacracy' and induction of army officials in civil bodies.