RAWALPINDI, Dec 18: The Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal (MMA) on Saturday warned that it would go to any extent to force President Gen Pervez Musharraf to relinquish either of the two posts. The warning came from the central leader of the religious parties alliance, Liaquat Baloch , at a press conference at the Rawalpindi Press Club on Saturday. He was briefing reporters about the arrangements made for the rally.

When asked as to what extent the MMA would go to pressure Gen Musharraf to remove his uniform, Mr Baloch said every option could be considered.

"Gen Musharraf should read the writing on the wall," he added.

He belied the government's claims that people supported Gen Musharraf and that the MMA's public meetings were a low-key affair. Gen Musharraf does not know which side the people are, he added.

He said leaders of the Alliance for Restoration of Democracy (ARD) had also been invited. Those who would attend the rally include PTI Chief Imran Khan, PML-N leader Chaudhry Nisar and a representative of the PPP.

The MMA leaders who will speak at the rally include Qazi Hussain Ahmad, Maulana Fazlur Rehman, Prof Sajid Mir, Allama Sajid Ali Naqvi and Allama Shahid Ahmad Siddiqui.

He said the purpose of these rallies was to force Gen Musharraf to respect law and remove his uniform, restore supremacy of parliament, abolish army's role in politics permanently and establish true democracy in the country.

Similarly, the MMA has set targets which include implementation of Shariat in the country, end to secular agenda of the government, protection of laws relating to the finality of prophethood, stopping attempts to remove Quranic verses from textbooks and establishment of Aga Khan Education Board.

The MMA leader said their gatherings in Karachi, Lahore and Multan had been a great success despite government's efforts to create hurdles and gear up its official electronic media to spread propaganda against them.

The victory of an MMA candidate in Malakand by-election is also proof of the fact that the religious parties are gaining popularity, he said.

Mr Baloch said the next line of action would be decided in the meetings of the MMA Supreme Council scheduled to held on December 24 and 25.

He also visited Liaquat Bagh to check the arrangements. He expressed satisfaction over the preparations, saying that security, sound, lighting, water supply and all other arrangements were complete in all respects.

The Rawalpindi public meeting would be better than the previous three rallies in Karachi, Lahore and Multan, he added.