November 08, 2006	Wednesday	Shawwal 15, 1427

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LAHORE, Nov 7: Jamaat-i-Islami amir and MMA president Qazi Husain Ahmad said on Tuesday that time had come to mobilise people for launching, what he called, a “final showdown against the regime that has become a security risk”.

He said at a press conference at Mansoora that time for a “final battle” had arrived.

“The rulers have lost even moral courage to condemn those killing its people on its own territory: the Americans ruined Bajaur and instead of condemning it, the rulers have owned the strike and defending it.”

Qazi said the Jamaat Shoora , in its recent meeting, had allowed the launch of anti-government drive besides authorising him to submit resignations of MMA legislators on a ‘suitable time’. “It has also allowed me to hold talks with the MMA component parties and other political parties in this regard,” the Qazi said.

The Jamaat chief claimed that he had constituted a special committee to contact political parties and homework for a decisive movement would be completed by the end of the current month. “I wish to take all opposition parties along in the movement for a one-point agenda of removing Gen Pervez Musharraf from power, and if that is not possible, then at least the MMA should remain united,” he said.

Qazi said Maulana Fazlur Rehman was abroad and he would take up the matter with him as soon as he returned. “Hopefully, the MMA central leadership will unanimously agree to launch the movement. All MMA component parties are bound to follow the decision of the Supreme Council.”

Condemning the Bajaur killings, the Qazi said neither any person nor any place was safe in Pakistan. All seminaries were now under the risk of being bombed any time.

The US attack, he said, was aimed at sabotaging the “peace deal” that the Pakistan government was scheduled to sign with the tribesmen of Bajaur. It was a clear message that the US did not approve of what the Musharraf government was doing in its tribal belt.

The Qazi challenged the government to prove presence of foreigners in the seminaries.

Expressing his concern over the deteriorating law and order, the MMA chief claimed that unemployment, lawlessness, poverty and economic crises were the products of Musharraf regime.

Commenting on next general elections, he said if the results of the referendum, local body elections and even the by-elections were something to go by, the government could never hold fair and free elections.

“Given the track record of the government, elections will be a total farce and fraud if held under the supervision of Gen Musharraf.”

Replying to a question, he said he would submit the resignations on a suitable time and it was now “totally up to him (Qazi) to choose timing and pattern of submitting” the resignations. But, “I think that most appropriate time of submission would be as soon as the anti-government movement gains momentum.”

He denied that the MMA was a hurdle in agitation plans of the Jamaat.

“The MMA will never be a hurdle in the way of movement against the government. The final date for agitation will be announced after the completion of homework that is supposed to be complete by the end of November. A movement cannot be launched in a hurry; it will take a little time. But, the leadership has made up its mind and workers are being mobilised to launch the movement.”