June 07, 2008	Saturday	Jamadi-us-Sani 02, 1429

LAHORE, June 6: Awami Muslim League President Sheikh Rashid Ahmad has said President Pervez Musharraf is

not a hurdle in the way of the ruling parties and they are absolutely free to take decisions on their own.

Speaking at a press conference here on Friday, he claimed: c2There is no hurdle in the way of the government if it is sincere to restore the deposed judges. The ruling parties have got the support of the required number of members in parliament for the purpose.

However, the politics of clash would be disastrous for democracy and the country.c2

He said the constitutional package consisted of mere proposals and a lot of time was required for its finalisation and approval from parliament. The nation had given heavy mandate to the ruling parties, but the rulers were not addressing the problems of the common man. The government was ignoring the real issues and the poor were facing the c2carpet-bombing of price hikec2, Mr Rashid said.

The current economic crises would, in his words, worsen during the next three months due to the irresponsible statements of the economic managers. He said the government announced scrapping of the Kalabagh Dam Project at a time when the country was facing severe water and power crises.

The government, he said, had not announced a policy to promote industry and agriculture. Even life-saving drugs and flour were not available to the public. He said the rulers were not interested in solving the problems of the people because they had properties and bank accounts in foreign countries.

He said a major party had no interest in the present assemblies; it only wanted to strengthen its position in Punjab and then to look towards the

Centre.

Answering a question, he said he was not a part of the decisions regarding the Lal Masjid and Jamia Hafsa invasion and military operation in tribal areas. He said the Q-League faced the public wrath in the last general election for carrying out the operation.