QUETTA, Jan 22: The All Parties Democratic Movement said on Tuesday that the coming elections under the Musharraf regime would aggravate the crisis the country was facing and demanded formation of a caretaker government involving all political parties to hold free, fair and transparent elections.

Addressing a public meeting in Loralai, APDM convener Mahmood Khan Achakzai appealed to all opposition parties and people to boycott the polls.

He said that if Gen Musharraf wanted to save Pakistan he should resign as president, abolish the National Security Council and hand over power to real representatives of the people.

Mr Achakzai, who is also chief of the Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party, urged opposition parties to launch a decisive movement against autocratic rulers who had deposed judges and were reluctant to constitute an independent Election Commission.

He accused the government of creating hurdles for opposition parties and controlling the media through ‘black laws’.

Mr Achakzai criticised the United States for its support to anti-democratic rulers in Pakistan and said that America must decide whether it was with the people or with generals.

The meeting adopted several resolutions, demanding restoration of the pre-Nov 3 judiciary, reinstatement of all judges who had refused to take the oath under the PCO and formation of a caretaker government and an independent Election Commission in consultation with all opposition parties to hold fair and free elections.

The meeting also demanded an end to military operations in tribal areas, Swat and Balochistan and release of all political detainees. “Pakhtuns, Balochs, Sindhis and Seraikis should be given their due rights and the provinces should be allowed to have control over their resources.”