23 March 2004	Tuesday	01 Safar 1425

NOWSHERA, March 22: Former interior minister and PPP leader Naseerullah Khan Babar has said that the military operation against tribesmen in the South Waziristan Agency has been launched by President Pervez Musharraf to remain in power and to be in the good books of the Bush administration.

Talking to party workers here on Sunday, Mr Babar said that history would never forgive President Gen Pervez Musharraf for what he called committing atrocities against innocent tribesmen in the name of operation against Al Qaeda and Taliban fighters.

He ruled out the presence of Al Qaeda militants in tribal areas and said that the resistance to the operation launched by the paramilitary and regular troops of the Pakistan army was a drama staged by the state agencies to save Gen Musharraf's rule.

He said scores of innocent tribesmen had been killed in the operation and the bombardments by the United States and Pakistan Army gunships in the South Waziristan Agency.

Those who were detained during the operation were simple, harmless and innocent elderly tribesmen having no links to militants or provided them shelter, he claimed.