QUETTA, Aug 24: The intelligentsia should support judiciary because only an independent judiciary can strengthen political and democratic institutions, according to Pukhtun nationalist leaders Asfandyar Wali Khan and Mahmood Khan Achakzai.

If President Gen Pervez Musharraf was sincere in his ‘Pakistan first’ slogan, he should quit power and allow elected representatives of the people to run the country’s affairs, MNA Mahmood Khan Achakzai, chief of the Pukhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party, said.

They were addressing a press conference after discussing matters relating to the progress of the Pukhtunkhwa National Democratic Alliance (PNDA), an alliance of Awami National Party and PMAP. The meeting of the alliance’s 20-member convening body was chaired by ANP chief Asfandyar Wali.

Mr Achakzai said that the struggle against President Musharraf was in decisive stage and the moment opposition parties launched a mass movement, the nation would be rid of dictatorship.

The two nationalist leaders announced formation of a committee to draft the alliance’s constitution by Sept 14 and vowed to continue their struggle for Pukhtun national rights.The constitution committee comprises Senator Abdur Rahim Mandokhel, Mukhtar Bacha, Latif Afridi and Afrasiyab Khattak.

The offices of the alliance will be located at the Bacha Centre in Peshawar, and in Quetta it would use the PMAP secretariat.

Another committee comprising Mian Iftikhar Hussain, Usman Kakar and Ahmed Jan will work to develop understanding with the Pakhtun Students Federation (PkSF) and the Pakthunkhwa Students Organisation, student wings of the ANP and PMAP, respectively. Expressing satisfaction over the alliance’s progress, Asfandyar Wali and Mahmood Achakzai said that its main objective was to unify Pakhtuns to protect their land and resources.

They said the alliance believed in non-violence, political process and democratic struggle, without compromising on principles.

According to a decision of the convening body, the two leaders will address meetings in the NWFP, Balochistan and Sindh.

When asked about their handshake with President Musharraf during the joint jirga in Kabul, Asfandyar Wali said it was not the first time he had shaken hands with Gen Musharraf while Mr Achakzai said that he would shake hands with every man who wanted peace.

Asfandyar Wali said that the All Parties Democratic Movement (APDM) was a political alliance based on the minimum programme of restoring civilian rule and ensuring parliament’s supremacy.