February 25, 2008	Monday	Safar 17, 1429

KARACHI, Feb 24: The Mohajir Qaumi Movement (Haqiqi) chairman, Afaq Ahmed, has asked the Pakistan People’s Party and the Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) leaders to make joint efforts for restoration of true democracy and get rid of dictatorship once and for all.

“The people of Pakistan have done what they thought was their responsibility by giving a mandate to democratic forces instead the supporters of dictators,” his lawyers quoted him as saying.

“Now it’s a responsibility of the two leaders to respect power of the people and future steps would reflect the aspiration of the nation,” he added.

He called for an end to political victimisation of opponents in line with true democratic values and an immediate halt to military operation in Balochistan and the NWFP.

“Democratic values demand negotiations with those people, who have been against the governments but not the country,” he added.