KARACHI, April 8: Muttahida Majlis Amal (MMA) on Sunday said that General Musharraf, by fanning the Jamia Hafsa issue, was trying to divert the attention of the masses from real issues and to prolong his tenure.

Speaking at a public meeting in Gulshan-i-Iqbal, MMA Sindh chief Asadullah Bhutto said that the masses, by sacrificing and by providing huge funds, expected General Pervez Musharraf to protect the country’s frontiers and liberate Kashmir.

But just to prolong his rule he has compromised on the ideological boundaries and integrity of the country and has started negotiations on Kashmir and Siachen.

He criticized General Pervez Musharraf and said that the general only used force to oppress the Pakistani masses who were demanding their rights, while he bowed before enemies.

He also criticized Musharraf for vilifying Jamia Hafsa’s women students, while a woman federal minister had been hugging her trainer in France.

Mr Bhutto also criticized Gen Musharraf for putting locks on a mosque and banning the recitation of Azan and offering Zuhr prayers during his meeting in Taxila.

Health Tax: MMA legislators Nasrullah Shajji, Hameedullah Khan and Yunus Barai said that the MQM had stated that if it came to power, it would bring prices of essential commodities down, but prices of all commodities have gone up. And now, it had imposed Health Tax on International Health Day.

They demanded the tax be taken back.

Seafood ban: MMA MNA Mohammad Hussain Mehenti, condemning the incompetent bureaucracy of Fisheries Department, has blamed its director general and other top officials for not taking appropriate steps in time, owing to which seafood exports from Pakistan to the European Union have been banned.

He demanded that a high level inquiry be instituted against the DG and other high officials.

Christians greeted: MMA leaders Prof Ghafoor Ahmad, Dr Mairaj-ul-Huda Siddiqui, Laiq Khan and Mohammad Hussain Mehenti have extended best wishes and greetings to the Christian community on their religious festival of Easter.