QUETTA/PESHAWAR, Sept 21: The All Parties Democratic Movement (APDM) on Friday staged separate rallies in the provincial capitals of Balochistan and the NWFP in which it adopted several resolutions one of which condemned the changing of Election Commission rules to “facilitate a dictator’s candidature for presidential polls”.

APDM rallies also vowed to resist usurpation of people’s rights through unconstitutional means.

The APDM protest was arranged against the deportation of PML-N leader Nawaz Sharif. The APDM also criticised the Saudi government’s interference in Pakistan’s political affairs.

PMAP secretary-general Akram Shah chaired the meeting outside the press club. Tehrik-i-Insaf activists participated in both rallies.

Criticising the Election Commission, the APDM resolution said the commission had changed rules because of federal government pressure, making its role doubtful. “It seems that it is playing in the hands of Gen Musharraf,” it said.

The resolution also called for revoking new presidential election rules to ensure the holding of impartial, fair and transparent polls in accordance with the requirements of the Constitution.

Another resolution condemned the attempt on the life of ANP’s leader in Swat and the assassination of JUI-F leader Maulana Hasan Jan in Peshawar and demanded of the government to arrest attackers in both incidents.

One of the resolutions expressed concern over the MQM’s siege of the Sindh High Court and termed it a criminal act of a terrorist organisation to exert pressure on judges who ordered the registration of FIR in the May 12 mayhem in Karachi.

A different resolution criticised raids on seminaries and arrest of madressah students.

Another resolution condemned the promulgation of the University Ordinance and called for the removal of retired army officers from the Balochistan University.

They called for stopping military operations in Balochistan and Waziristan, adding that it was endangering the country’s integrity.

In Peshawar, APDM leaders vowed to stop President Musharraf’s re-election at any cost. Through a resolution, opposition parties demanded of the military clique to restrict their involvement in country’s affairs strictly in accordance with the Constitution and stop their interference in political affairs.

They also called for the establishment of an impartial Election Commission to conduct elections in free and fair manner.

It was addressed by PML-N’s Iqbal Zafar Jhagra, ANP’s Ghulam Ahmad Bilour and Afrasiab Khattak, the Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party’s provincial president Mukhtiar Yousafzai.

Afrasiab Khattak said the situation in the country was almost exactly like the one in 1971, when the then military ruler had ordered the launching of a military operation in East Pakistan.

He warned of reprisal if the military government did not stop the killing of innocent people in the name of foreign-declared war on terror.

Mr Jhagra urged the people to take to the streets because hostile military rulers could not be sent to barracks by condemnation alone.

He said that President Musharraf had given Pakistan suicide bombers, adding that eight years ago, no one could have imagined a suicide attack in Pakistan. Blaming President Musharraf’s pro-American policies, he said the country was engulfed by terrorists and suicide bombers.