SUKKUR, Feb 16: Jamaat-i-Islami deputy chief Liaqat Baloch has demanded the announcement of elections schedule, formation of a caretaker government to conduct the elections, and resignation of President Gen Pervez Musharraf for what he called failing to protect the national interests.

He was speaking at a press conference at the JI office here on Saturday, which was also attended by JI Sindh Chief Asadullah Bhutto and Ehsanullah Waqas.

He said that the integrity of Pakistan was in danger as long as the present government was in power and called upon all political parties to unite on a platform against the government.

He disclosed that some progress had been made in the JI talks with PML (N), PML (QA), PPP and Tehrik Insaf.

He said the common grounds of talks would be restoration of the 1973 Constitution in its true form, protection of the Pakistan Ideology and holding of free elections.

Mr Baloch further said that President Musharraf had become a controversial ruler after showing his intention to stay in power as the president. This meant that the coming elections would not be fair and transparent, he added.

He demanded that an independent and autonomous election commission be formed and elections be held within 90 days under its supervision.

He expressed serious reservations about the visit of Gen. Pervaiz Musharraf to US and demanded that the US troops be withdrawn from Afghanistan and Pakistan. Pakistan was an islamic state, and so was Afghanistan, and their people would not tolerate US forces any longer, he added.

He also questioned the proposed amendments, and feared that if they were accepted, it would be suicidal. The army and the judiciary had no right to amend the constitution, and only a selected parliament could do that, he added. He observed that a wide gulf was being created between the army and the people and held Gen. Pervaiz Musharraf responsible for this.

He criticized the government for violating the Supreme Court order regarding the release of Qazi Hussain Ahmed, and termed it contempt of the apex court.