September 20, 2007	Thursday	Ramazan 07, 1428

LAHORE, Sept 19: Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaaf chairperson Imran Khan says the Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam, a component of the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal, has given a ‘firm’ undertaking to the All Parties Democratic Movement that Chief Minister Akram Durrani will render an advice to the NWFP governor that the provincial assembly should be dissolved the day the nomination papers of Gen Pervez Musharraf are accepted as a presidential candidate.

Simultaneously, the JUI MPAs in Balochistan legislature would also tender their resignations en bloc along with other MNAs and MPAs belonging to the APDM and this would paralyse the president’s electoral college to a degree that Gen Musharraf’s election for another term in the presidency would effectively be jeopardised.

Speaking at an Iftar reception and later replying to questions by reporters, Mr Khan said the APDM had approved a comprehensive strategy that would substantially erode the president’s electoral college and its first demonstration would be made when all the APDM members would quit the national and provincial legislatures to paralyse the presidential election.

The day the Election Commission of Pakistan would accept the nomination of Gen Musharraf as a presidential candidate would be the ‘day of action’ which would see the opposition parties quitting assemblies. The day would also expose the parties who were having a back-door contact with the military establishment.

He said the question of Gen Musharraf’s eligibility would have to be decided before the stage of nominations and the opposition had complete confidence in the superior judiciary that it would uphold the constitutional dictates.

The PTI chairperson said the ECP had amended the Article 63 of the Constitution by an executive order to enable a non-eligible individual to contest as president. The apex court of the country was to take a review of the ECP notification which had been issued with a malafide intention holding an individual above the constitution.

“This notification is unconstitutional and will be declared as such”, he said and added that the ECP had exposed itself as biased in favour of the military rulers and could not be expected to hold parliamentary elections in a free and transparent manner.

Mr Khan said the deal between Gen Musharraf and former premier Benazir Bhutto would leave a long-term effect on national politics and the PPP chairperson was well advised to avoid going adrift from the democratic struggle.

Such a deal, he said, was aimed at serving their mutual interests as the PPP chairperson wanted the withdrawal of Rs100 billion corruption cases against her and Musharraf wanted to stay in the presidency for another five years.