March 26, 2006	Sunday	Safar 25, 1427

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PESHAWAR, March 25: A former president of the Pakistan People’s Party, Khwaja Mohammad Khan Hoti, has said that none of the political parties are raising voice against growing lawlessness, unemployment and price-hike which are the basic issues of the people.

Speaking at a news conference, he said instead of protesting against economic repression of people political parties were making statements against Gen Pervez Musharraf’s uniform which was a secondary issue.

The PPP leader said he didn’t see any noteworthy difference in manifestoes of major political parties. He said most political parties were opposed to hold intra-party elections and were being run like personal fiefdoms and added that there were other parties that did not even a concrete programme and manifesto.

Mr Khan said all political leaders were product of military leaders and added that if someone failed in making a deal with military he accused it of dictatorship. Similarly, if a political party succeeded in making a deal with generals, it called them saviours of the country and democracy.

He claimed that PPP in 1988 came to power after striking a deal with the then army chief Gen Abdul Waheed Kakar and president Ghulam Ishaq Khan.

Mr Hoti said the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal had also failed in resolving people’s problems.

He asked political parties to hold elections within them and put their manifestoes into practice. Otherwise, he said, they could not stop military’s involvement in politics.

In reply to a question whether he would join Awami National Party or Pakistan Muslim League, Mr Hoti said he was in contact with his friends on this issue.