PESHAWAR, Aug 9: Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaf chairman Imran Khan has demanded a judicial inquiry into the army operation in Waziristan to determine the human and material losses suffered by the country and its people.

“We demand a high-level, independent judicial probe into the military operation in Waziristan that can investigate the human and material losses essuffered by the army and the tribesmen,” he said at a news conference here on Wednesday.

Mr Khan wondered how a poor country like Pakistan could tackle the tribesmen through the use of force where the British had failed during their rule.

The government had now initiated dialogue with the tribesmen to end the prevailing situation, he said, asking why the process was not started when the PTI demanded it long before the beginning of the military operation.

“If India can hold an inquiry into the Kargil war despite winning it, then why can we not do the same for a failed military operation in Waziristan,” he asked.

He held President Pervez Musharraf responsible for the killing of hundreds of armymen as well as the civilians.

“Musharraf is doing all this at the behest of the United States and his efforts to prolong his illegitimate rule,” he said.

He said it was due to the misconceived policies of Gen Musharraf that even Afghanistan was calling Pakistan terrorist.

He said the recent statement of US Assistant Secretary of State Richard Boucher that the Washington and New Delhi would jointly control cross-border terrorism should awaken the rulers who, according to him, were out to support every move initiated by the US.

The PTI chief supported the Charter of Democracy singed by the People’s Party Parliamentarians and the Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) and said that the document provided for a free judiciary, free elections and putting brakes on army’s intervention in politics.

“The opposition parties are united on the one-point agenda of removing Gen Musharraf and paving the way for free and fair elections in the country,” he said. The opposition was also bringing a no-confidence motion against the government, he said.

But the move should be the first step that should be followed by resignations from the assemblies and a protest campaign against the government, he said.

He said the Alliance for the Restoration of Democracy would decide about the timing of the no-confidence motion.

“We cannot expect free and fair elections under President Musharraf.

“We have to unseat him before going for establishment of democracy,” he said.

In reply to a question, he said his party supported the Jamaat-i-slami because it had a clear agenda about a protest campaign against the regime. There would be no electoral alliance with any party, he said.

Mr Khan also advised against military intervention in Balochistan and said pitting the army against its own people would spell doom for the entire country.

He equated the Balochistan situation with that of East Pakistan which led to dismemberment of the country.

On the occasion, PPP leader Mian Mukarram Shah announced joining the PTI.