26 January 2005	Wednesday	15 Zilhaj 1425

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ISLAMABAD Jan 25: Politicians drawn from the four provinces on Tuesday decided to form the Independent Democratic Group (IDG) to wage struggle for restoration of the 1973 Constitution and undiluted parliamentary democracy in the country.

The politicians, who met at the residence of former speaker Syed Fakhr Imam and Begum Abida Hussain, decided to hold more meetings to get support of other political leaders.

The participants included, Elahi Bakhsh Soomro, Sardar Wazir Ahmed Jogezai, Syed Iftikhar Gilani, Mian Mohammad Azhar, Nawabzada Mohsin Ali Khan and Ghulam Sarwar Cheema.

The IDG announced to cooperate with and join any anti-Musharraf movement launched by the Alliance for the Restoration of Democracy or the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal, declaring both the alliances as democratic entities.

It further announced to contest as a group or to ally with any other party or alliance in the mid-term polls which it claimed were bound to be called with the fast eroding credibility of the government.

The group declared retention of the COAS office along with that of president by General Pervez Musharraf as a constitution deviation. It expressed grave concern over the failure of the government in resolving the Balochistan crisis through political means, thus resulting in the surfacing of separatist groups like the Balochistan Liberation Army.

The IDG demanded of Gen Musharraf to shun interference in the functioning of parliamentary democracy and let the prime minister handle all his functions independently, including the foreign affairs.

Opposing any military operation in Balochistan, it said such an adventure would not only prove counter-productive but erode further the prestige of Pakistan army. The group said the military operation in Wana was unjustified, and called Gilgit crisis a result of mishandling of law and order in the country.

It supported giving more political and financial autonomy to the provinces, leaving four subjects of defence, foreign affairs, finance and communication with the centre.

Briefing newsmen, Fakhr Imam, former law minister Syed Iftikhar Gilani and former Balochistan chief minister Mir Taj Mohammad Jamali said the group was formed to defend the basic human rights of the people and to oppose military operation as an option for the settlement of Balochistan imbroglio.

Mr Fakhr Imam said: "In view of the group, army should not be used in Balochistan since we believe armed forces are constitutionally bound to defend country's frontiers instead of resorting to police actions."

He questioned as to under which constitutional provision General Musharraf was talking to Mr George Bush and Mr Tony Blair and handling foreign affairs in presence of a parliamentary system in place.

He termed the system as military-driven in which three prime ministers were changed within three months and despite the tag of graduate assembly all important decisions were taken by the army establishment.

He said the issue of gas royalty and NFC awards, which were the cause of anxiety in the smaller provinces, should have been settled long ago. Mr Taj Jamali condemned what he termed continued injustices meted out to the people of Balochistan and advocated a political settlement and making the parliamentary committee report public.

Mr Iftikhar Gilani said all the provinces were being subjected to centre's excesses in terms of provincial autonomy as well as distribution of financial resources.