October 26, 2007	Friday	Shawwal 13, 1428

WASHINGTON, Oct 25: A clash between the military and the judiciary could hurt both the institutions and could also derail the democratic process, warns Muttahida Qaumi Movement’s deputy convenor Dr Farooq Sattar.

He also emphasised the need to ensure that the next elections in the country are held on time and are fair and free because these will be the most important elections in Pakistan’s history.“A clash between organs of the state will not only hurt these institutions but will also hurt democracy,” Dr Sattar told a briefing in Washington.

The country, he said, was facing a ‘make or break’ situation and “needs political stability, democracy and continuity of policies as pursued by President Musharraf to address problems of extremism and terrorism”.

He conceded that the May

12 incident, in which dozens of people were killed during a clash between those who were supporting the Chief Justice’s rally and those who were opposing it, had hurt MQM’s image.

But he insisted that his party was wrongly blamed for the killings, although more than a dozen of its workers were also killed in the clashes.

The MQM leader also acknowledged that the party made a mistake when it asked its workers to bring out a rally on May 12, when the Chief Justice was coming to Karachi. “We should have postponed our rally,” he said.

Dr Sattar dispelled the impression that the MQM supported military rule. “Nobody wants military rule,” he said. “But we believe that bringing Gen. Musharraf down or forcing him to doff his uniform will not end the military’s intervention in politics. It can only bring another set of rulers.”

Asked why MQM chief Altaf Hussain was not returning to Pakistan while other leaders were, he said party’s Rabita Committee will decide when it would be appropriate for him to return.

He said the restriction on Imran Khan’s entry in Karachi was imposed to avoid ethnic clashes in the city but “now the threat is no more there, he is free to come whenever he wants.”

The Muttahida Qaumi Movement, he said, would make “seat adjustments” with parties during the elections.

He indicated that his party may have some arrangement with a major religious party, which has strong support in the Pashtun areas of Karachi.