LAHORE, Oct 15: The Jamaat-i-Islami said on Monday that the crisis facing the country at present could be resolved only with the stepping down of the Musharraf government and the establishment of a civil setup which could hold elections.

Talking to reporters at Mansoora, he assailed the pro-US policy of the government and alleged that it was alienating the country. By allowing the US to use military facilities of Pakistan for strikes on Afghanistan, the Jamaat chief said the government was annoying both its friends — China and Iran.

He also criticized steps aimed at the overthrow of the Taliban government and induction of what is being billed as a broad-based government in Afghanistan. He said if the efforts succeeded, an anti-Pakistan government would be installed in Kabul which would try to have the freedom movement in occupied Kashmir tagged as terrorism.

The Qazi said such a government could be a matter of rejoicing only for India as it would be the only beneficiary of the situation.

He said the Musharraf government could not survive the policies it was following. It was bound to collapse, he predicted.

The military government, he said, had failed to deliver like the PML and the PPP governments and it was left with no justification to stay.

Replying to a question, he said if the situation degenerated, the Jamaat would give a call for march on Islamabad. However, he made it clear that a date for the purpose would be set after keeping all factors in mind.

The Qazi said by accepting financial assistance in return for the ‘service’ it was rendering to the United States, the government had compromised the national dignity and honour.

He ridiculed the government claim that it had saved the country by working against the Taliban.

The Jamaat, he declared, would not relax unless it pulled down a government which had placed the army and the country at the disposal of the United States.

Answering a question, he said those seeking action against the Jehadi forces would not spare the army as Jehad was its motto.

He said the army should be as united for the change of the present government as it was united on Oct 12, 1999 when the Nawaz Sharif government was ousted.