November 22, 2007	Thursday	Ziqa’ad 11, 1428

LAHORE, Nov 21: Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal President Qazi Husain Ahmad on Tuesday contacted former prime minister Nawaz Sharif and Pakistan People’s Party Vice-Chairman Makhdoom Amin Fahim on telephone and proposed collective boycott of general elections by the opposition during exchange of views on the political situation and election schedule.

Qazi Husain Ahmad was of the view that elections under the military rule would be nothing but a farce.

Responding to the suggestion, Mr Sharif reportedly pledged to discuss the issue with the MMA president again, while Mr Fahim informed him that he would convey the proposal to Benazir Bhutto and would be able to respond to it after consulting the party head.

Talking to a television channel, Qazi said preventing people’s access to information by imposing a ban on the TV channels was an `anti-Pakistan’ act. Freedom of media, he said, was necessary in a democratic society but the military dictator was afraid of the awakening of the people.

He deplored that under the regime the journalists were being beaten up and arrested to prevent the media from reporting the facts. — Reporter