LAHORE, July 21: The Jamaat-i-Islami is of the firm opinion that public pressure on the government should be stepped up to steer the country out of the present constitutional crisis, says naib amir Liaquat Baloch.

“People should be given a call to come out on roads on the issue,” he said, warning the government that it would become the prime target of public hatred if any such activity was initiated.

Talking to Dawn here on Monday, he said the JI had put up the protest proposal before the heads of the six constituents of religions alliance, the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal (MMA), which decided not to launch any movement at this juncture. “Being a part of the alliance the JI is bound to abide by its decisions.”

He did not rule out chances of a protest campaign against the government if the forthcoming round of talks on the LFO remained futile. “However, a decision in this regard will be taken by the MMA summit meeting to be held before the Aug 14 Rawalpindi rally.”

A (big) protest movement (against the government) would be launched only when the MMA would decide so as the ARD was unable to start such a drive, he said, adding “what the ARD has done so far is an open secret.”

Asked about the logic of talks when both the government and the opposition were sticking to their stances, he said the thorny issues of LFO and uniform had to be settled only through a dialogue.

“If the opposition opts out of the process prematurely or if the government accepts all demands before hand, then what for talks will be held,” he said.

He, however, said both Gen Musharraf and Prime Minister Jamali were prudent enough to know what was in their best interest.

They had much at stake and the opposition had nothing to lose in case of failure of the talks, he added.

About MMA secretary-general Maulana Fazlur Rahman’s statements in India against policy decisions of the religious alliance, he said the Maulana had taken into confidence all alliance’s leaders before undertaking his private visit to India.

He, as well as Maulana Shah Ahmad Noorani (president) and Qazi Husain Ahmad (vice-president), would brief the MMA supreme council on their return about their respective foreign visits, Mr Baloch said.

Moreover, the JI leader said, he (Fazlur Rahman) had also complained that the (Indian) media had misreported his statements and that he would clarify his position on his return.