November 28, 2007	Wednesday	Ziqa’ad 17, 1428

LAHORE, Nov 27: Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) Amir Qazi Husain Ahmad has termed elections under the present circumstances a ‘drama’ just to legitimise the unconstitutional steps of military regime and demanded immediate lifting of emergency and restoration of judiciary as it was prior to Nov 3.

Speaking at the inaugural session of the JI’s Shoora meeting here on Tuesday, he said the military regime imposed emergency only to get rid of some judges of the superior judiciary and induct judges of its choice.

He said a majority of superior courts judges had not taken oath under the Provisional Constitution Order (PCO) for the first time in the history of Pakistan. Those who had taken oath under the PCO were giving verdicts in line with the dictates of the military rulers, who had destroyed the institution of judiciary.

He said the treatment being meted out to judges of superior courts was condemnable. The government should feel shame on Justice Khalilur Rehman Ramday’s statement that neither he nor Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry owned a house and they would have to sit on the roads with their families in the event of eviction from official residences.

He said that all political parties in the All Pakistan Democratic Movement wanted to boycott the elections under present circumstances and launch a movement which should continue till the reinstatement of deposed judges and holding of fair elections under an independent Election Commission and impartial caretaker government.

He said the situation in Swat was deteriorating on account of curfew as stocks of flour and other essential commodities had exhausted in Shangla. Relief work in Swat and Battkhela was also being hampered due to curfew as a result of which resentment against the government was increasing in these areas.

He said the government was trying to suppress the people’s voice by imposing martial law in the garb of emergency following the dictates of United States. The war started in tribal areas should be stopped immediately, as it would not be contained rather spread to Dir, Bajaur and other areas in future.