HYDERABAD, March 12: The People’s Party Parliamentarians (PPP) has termed the president’s action against the chief justice as a sequel to the aggression with which power had been seized in past and expressed its belief that the 2007 will see the culmination of battle between democratic and undemocratic forces.

Addressing members of Hyderabad District Bar Association (HDBA) and High Court Bar Association (HCBA) on Monday after leading a large rally they expressed the fear that the very existence of the federation would be at risk if hurdles were created to the efforts for the restoration of real democracy, return of popular leadership and transparent elections.

Jehangir Badar said that "This year will mark the end of war between democratic and undemocratic forces and the ‘wedding party’, which goes by the name of PML-Q will be sent packing."

He accused the generals of ousting people belonging to middle-class and the poor section of society from politics and said "rulers are trying to find any pretext to perpetuate their rule".

He slammed the presidential reference rendering Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) non-functional and termed it "a continuation of aggression with which power had been seized in past and the judiciary has come under attack in order to prolong the (dictator’s) rule".

Former minister for foreign affairs Sardar Assef Ahmed Ali said that either Gen Pervez Musharraf or Pakistan would come out alive after the recent blows to the federation, constitution and country's integrity.

"He is least concerned about general elections because he has GHQ prepare plans to obtain 'desired results' and the army is very quick in making plans," said Mr Assef.

The attack on judiciary indicated that president had fears it might complicate things by giving a verdict against him in a case challenging the president's re-election by existing assemblies, he mused. He said that the president was annoyed with the way the CJP decided case about Pakistan Steel Mills privatisation and cases about missing persons and human rights.

He called it "a desperate move by the president, who will not be able to get away with it easily. I personally think it will prove to be a Waterloo".

He said that Gen Musharraf had made every institution of the country subordinate to GHQ.

Former ambassador to the United States Syeda Abida Hussain said that only a man uniform could meet out such a treatment to the CJP and described it as a "naked aggression on all norms of justice and sanctity of the highest forum.”