LAHORE, Dec 26: Former president Rafiq Tarar alleged that Gen Musharraf has raised Kalabagh dam issue to prolong his “illegal” stay in presidency. He was speaking at a ceremony organized by PML-N MPA Chaudhry Abdul Ghafoor at Raiwind here on Monday.

Party’s central Secretary-General Iqbal Zafar Jhagra, Finance Secretary MNA Pervaiz Malick, Zaeem Qadri, Saad Rafiq and others also spoke.

Tarar said there were many issues of public welfare which were more important than the dam and needed to be addressed on priority basis. He added stress should not be laid on the project which did not enjoy consensus of all provinces.

He said present national scenario demanded restoration of democracy in real terms.

Mr Jhagra said his party did not accept Gen Musharraf as constitutional head of state while democracy and the parliament also did not exist in the country.

Malick said politicians were responsible for running political affairs of the country and not the army generals. He termed the dam lifeline of the country but said the project could not be executed by Gen Musharraf for “people do not trust him.”

Qadri said the party would demonstrate outside the Lahore Press Club on Wednesday (Dec 28) against army operation in Balochistan.