23 May 2004	Sunday	03 Rabi-us-Saani 1425

KARACHI, May 22: The Tehrik-i-Insaaf chief, Imran Khan, on Saturday called for judicial reform to rid the political dispensation of military interventions and to establish supremacy of parliament.

Speaking at the 'Meet the Press' programme of the Karachi Press Club, Mr Khan hinted that his party might support the ARD nominee for the slot of leader of the opposition in the National Assembly. He slammed Gen Musharraf for surrendering to the whims of the United States and becoming accessory to its crime against humanity being committed under the cover of 'war on terror'.

Imran Khan was of the view that the present parliament did not have legitimacy and in this context indicated that "the prime minister calls a grade-22 officer his boss."

He also held the government responsible for the deteriorating law and order situation in the country in general, and in Karachi in particular.

The judiciary in Pakistan is for all practical purposes subservient to the executive and, therefore, there is no democracy, he remarked.

"We need real judicial reforms to emancipate the judiciary from the machinations of the Establishment and to get rid of corrupt democratic and military government," said the TI chief.

In reply to a question that who should be the leader of the opposition, Mr Khan opposed the name of Maulana Fazlur Rahman as suggested by the NA Speaker, and said he would rather support the 'other group', an apparent reference to the ARD candidate, though he still was non-committal.

Imran Khan emphasized that smaller groups were trying hard to convince the opposition parties to agree on a non-controversial or a neutral person to deny the government any opportunity of creating further dissension within their ranks.

While stressing the need for taking those into account who had polled more votes, Imran Khan observed that after supporting the 17th constitutional amendment under which the LFO had been imposed on people, the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal's position had been compromised.

"Had the opposition, especially MMA, played its due role in the parliament, it would not have been possible for the government to get the LFO and National Security Council (NSC) bills approved in the House," he said.

However, he added, the opposition could again find a rallying point on the issue of Gen Musharraf's uniform and compel him to respect the will of the people.

Criticizing Gen Musharraf's policies, the TI chief alleged that "Musharraf is subservient to the US. He condemns terrorism at home to please the US but does not condemn the criminal and terrorist acts in Iraq, Middle East and elsewhere in the Muslim world by the US."

He was also critical of the government's policy of launching military operation in Wana and linked it with Gen Musharraf's conscious attempt to please the US. "Owing to the flawed operation, about 70 Pakistani military personnel have been killed but no foreign militant has been found there."

Slamming the government for deteriorating law and order in Karachi, Mr Khan said the metropolis was hub of economic activity and the law and order situation here was having a telling effect on the country's economy.

Commenting on democracy in the country, he said democracy has no contradiction to Islam. The religion also gives its followers the right to elect their ruler. "But, unfortunately, we don't see true and actual democracy in Islamic countries while western countries, including the US and Britain, are genuine democratic countries."

Imran Khan, while alleging irregularities in October 2002 elections and by-polls, criticized the Chief Election Commissioner and urged political parties not to participate in any future elections "to be supervised by this man."

He claimed that people of the country were now fed-up with traditional politicians and the next elections would bring a stunning change in the country.

Mr Khan also criticised the government for harbouring what he called defaulters and corrupt elements.

He claimed that Chaudhri Shujaat Hussain and Chaudhry Pervez Elahi were not competent to contest elections because, according to him, they had got their loans written off by using their clout in the establishment.

He said his party had produced the MCB's annual report but the plea was not accepted by the court, which was regrettable.

Mr Khan claimed that the establishment was itself responsible for propping up corrupt people to subvert the will of the people.

Replying to a question regarding Kalabagh dam, he said that a consensus was necessary on constructing water reservoirs for meeting future requirements.

Answering another query, he said Seta White, before her death, had declared him and his wife as guardians of her daughter.

CHANGE: Addressing members of the Karachi Bar Association at Shuhada-i-Punjab Hall on Saturday, Imran Khan called for a revolutionary change in the socio-political set up of the country to bring an end to the reign of bureaucracy and landed aristocracy, adds APP.

He observed that poverty and hunger had reached at maximum level and the nation was crumbling under resource crisis. He stressed that the entire social fabric and politics needed rejuvenation so that national cohesion and economic prosperity could be promoted.

He told the lawyers that the judiciary would also rise to the occasion and emancipate lot of our people.

He also urged them to keep their movement against ill wills with vigour and play their role which, he said, always remained positive, particularly in constitutional crisis.