ISLAMABAD, Aug 20: Opposition leaders belonging to the All Parties Democratic Movement (APDM) on Monday vowed to strongly resist the re-election of President Gen Pervez Musharraf, saying they had already launched a “Go Musharraf go movement” which would continue till the ouster of the regime.

Speaking at a seminar on “Prospects of the APDM” organised by the Sustainable Development Policy Institute, they said at present the aim of the new opposition alliance was to remove Gen Musharraf as they considered him the main hindrance in the enforcement of the constitution in letter and spirit.

The APDM leaders who spoke on the occasion were information secretary of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Ahsan Iqbal, Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal (MMA) Senator Prof Muhammad Ibrahim Khan, information secretary of the Awami National Party (ANP) Zahid Khan and additional secretary general of Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaf (PTI) Admiral (retired) Jawaid Iqbal. Zafarullah Khan of Centre for Civic Education also spoke.

Prof Ibrahim left the venue before conclusion of the seminar after facing severe criticism not only from his colleagues in the panel but also from the participants for, what they said, the role of the religious parties in strengthening military rules in the country.

Prof Ibrahim admitted that the MMA had committed a big mistake by supporting Gen Musharraf and the PML-Q during the passage of the 17th Constitutional Amendment. He said the MMA had already apologised to the nation for this fault. He, however, said the religious alliance alone should not be blamed for supporting the LFO, as all other parties had taken part in the 2002 elections under the same framework.

The MMA senator said they were “powerless and helpless” and had no choice but to strike a deal with the regime on the 17th Amendment. He said under the agreement, Gen Musharraf was required to put off his uniform by December 31, 2004, but he violated the agreement.

Ahsan Iqbal said the APDM had a five-point agenda which included restoration of the 1973 Constitution as it existed on October 12, 1999; independence of judiciary; free and fair election; freedom of expression and its dignity, and end to the role of army in politics. He said those advocating emergency rule in the country were violating the law and should be brought to justice under Article 6 of the constitution.

“Democracy could not be restored through backdoor deals but only though struggle, that’s why we launched a move on August 14 under the banner of the APDM,” the PML-N leader said while referring to the public meeting held Liaquat Bagh on the Independence Day.

Zahid Khan of the ANP said due to the worsening law and order situation and weakening of the writ of the government not only life of the common man had become miserable but also the country’s security had been put at stake. He said the ANP had never accepted Gen Musharraf as president and it would resist his re- election at all costs. He said people would not accept any new general and dictator after Musharraf.

Admiral (retired) Jawaid Iqbal of the PTI said they must also expose the intellectual dishonesty which caused harm to the country. He said the APDM had agreed on an agenda that there would be no role of the army in national politics.