07 October 2004	Thursday	21 Shaban 1425

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ISLAMABAD, Oct 6: Former speaker National Assembly Syed Fakhar Imam and former federal minister Begum Abida Hussain have said they may join the anti-Musharraf forces, especially the campaign against president's retaining of army chief's uniform.

This was stated by the political couple while speaking at a meet the press programme of the Rawalpindi Press Club at its camp office here on Wednesday. In reply to a question whether they were planning a campaign against the president's army uniform, they said: "we are contemplating a plan in consultation with the like-minded politicians and may lead a campaign against violation of the Constitution by the president".

Mr Imam said they had met and discussed a host of political issues, especially president's retaining army chief's uniform, with the like-minded politicians. "So far, we have met PPP leader Benazir Bhutto and ANP leader Wali Khan and soon we will meet the nationalists of Balochistan to reach a conclusion to play our role," he said.

"In our view President Musharraf stands no moral ground to go back from his promise of shedding the uniform before December 31 as provided in the 17the amendment".

He said although he lost the office of speaker of the 1985 assembly as a result, he did not hesitate to give a ruling against martial law and still believed the army had no permanent constitutional role in running the country.

He demanded that former premiers Nawaz Sharif and Benazir Bhutto be allowed to return and play their political role in the country. Asked as to why they had turned against their own party (PML-Q) to confront Gen Musharraf, Ms Hussain said "had we been in consonance with them we would not have been sitting here today".

To another query, Mr Imam said the PML(Q) had been turned into a "Musharraf-league" as all its actions were directed by the general. The parliament designed and brought into being with the help of agencies has lost credibility as no one from its 342 members did qualify to become prime minister and an outsider had to be inducted, he alleged.

Ms Hussain condemned the statement of visiting UK defence secretary about president's uniform and said no one could be given the right to interfere in Pakistan's internal issue.