August 12, 2008	Tuesday	Sha'aban 9, 1429

LAHORE, Aug 11: The Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), Punjab chapter, has decided to hold a ‘Go Musharraf public meeting’ on Aug 14 in the provincial metropolis.

PPP Secretary-General Chaudhry Ghulam Abbas told a press conference on Monday the meeting held at Regal Chowk and attended by politicians, political workers, traders, students, lawyers, civil society members and others would be reflective of the public aspirations.

He said the impeachment of President Pervez Musharraf who ousted a democratic government in 1999 besides dissolving parliament and breaching the constitution would be a historic moment.

He alleged that Gen Musharraf not only destroyed the economy but also damaged constitutional, social, moral, geographic and ideological basis of the country.

He said that in 1999, the total debt of the country was $32 billion, while at the time when the government was handed over to public representatives in 2008 the amount had crossed the $45.8 billion mark.

The PPP leader alleged the “self-claimed honest” Musharraf embezzled over $50.5 billion. He said that there was no record of $17 billion earned through privatising public sector units, while $10 billion were also missing received from the US under the war on terror plan and to modernise seminaries.

Similarly, there were no accounts of $6 billion aid given for the rehabilitation of the victims Oct 2005 earthquake, he alleged, adding the amount was usurped by Musharraf and his aides while the needy were looking for a shelter in extreme weathers. He said during the Musharraf era no development project was started and rather he sowed the seeds of hatred among the federating units against the federation and each other.

The PPP leader alleged that Musharraf aides killed Nawab Akbar Bugti who was pro-federation leader in Balochistan.

He said the former army chief was also behind the killing of Benazir Bhutto. He said had Musharraf got properly investigated the Carsaz incident, the PPP would not have been deprived of its leader.

He claimed that there were no terrorists or suicide bombers in the country as the heinous crime was being committed by the conspirators planted by Musharraf.

He said the Muslims of sub-continent gained independence as a result of democratic struggle of politicians, students, traders and lawyers through a democratic process and there was no contribution of any army general in the freedom movement.