SUKKUR, April 19: Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam (Fazl) chief and Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal secretary-general Maulana Fazlur Rehman has said that there is no role of army in democracy. He was speaking at a press conference at Jamia Hammadiya Manzilgah here on Monday after a three-day meeting of the central general council of his party.

He said that his party had serious differences with the government over a number of issues, including the National Security Council, army operation in Wana and the president's uniform. However, he said, they were cooperating with the government in the parliament for the welfare of people.

Mr Rehman said he hoped that President Gen Pervez Musharraf would shed his uniform as had been pledged by him in his speech after the passage of 17th constitutional amendment, adding that otherwise the country would plunge into a political crisis. He underlined the need for a dialogue with the tribesmen of Waziristan on handing over foreign militants to the government.

He said that it was considered opinion of the MMA that armed operation in Wana was not in national interest and that the dispute should be resolved through a dialogue.

He said that it was not too late as yet and advised the government not to use armed forces in Wana again as was being speculated in the press. Mr Rehman also took strong exception to the changes in educational syllabus and said that it was being done at the behest of the US in order to secularize the textbooks.

He said that the central general council of the JUI-F had demanded enactment of Islamic laws in the light of recommendations made by the Islamic Ideology Council.

He said that the council had denounced US action in Afghanistan and Iraq and brute use of force by Israel on Palestinians, and termed them terrorism.

He said that during his recent visit to the UK, he had met British Foreign Minister Jack Straw to tell him that Muslims were peace loving people and they had no grudge against other communities.

He added that he had also called for a dialogue between Muslims and followers of other religions in order to achieve global peace as use of force was against all norms of ethics and morality. The Maulana said that the council had also demanded withdrawal of US troops from Pakistan's air- bases.

According to him, the JUI council had also strongly criticised the Sindh government for its failure in maintaining law and order in the province. He said that lawlessness, highway robberies and kidnappings for ransom were rampant in Sindh as a result its residents were feeling insecurity.

He accused the chief minister Sindh and his cabinet members of providing protection to outlaws and anti-social elements. The JUI leader also criticized the Sindh government for issuing a notification in which 22 provincial office-bearers of the party had been listed as suspected terrorists, adding that intelligence agencies had been directed to keep a watch on them.