LAHORE, Oct 23: ARD deputy information secretary Munir Ahmad Khan has condemned the reported registration of a treason case against PML-N acting president Javed Hashmi.

Talking to newsmen here on Thursday, he said the only sin of Mr Hashmi was that he had distributed a letter he had received from anonymous ‘army men’ who had pointed out malpractice of their some colleagues.

He emphasized that the PPP respected the army institution and did not want a division in it. Mr Khan, who is also chief of the PPP foreign liaison committee, said his party did not like division in political parties either.

“The PPP only opposes the political role of the army.”

He, however, opposed giving more time to Gen Pervez Musharraf and urged the MMA not to give unjustified concession to the military ruler in this regard.

He said giving more time to the general would be harmful for democracy. He warned the MMA that it should not risk the democracy at the cost of its NWFP and Balochistan governments as Gen Musharraf would definitely betray them later on.

He said the military ruler had earlier betrayed the PPP by holding talks with Asif Zardari on one hand and breaking away its 10 MNAs through pressure tactics on the other.

He reiterated the ARD’s stand that Gen Musharraf would not be acceptable to it either in uniform or in civilian dress. —Staff Reporter