PESHAWAR, Aug 31: The kidnapping of at least 100 soldiers clearly shows that the army is demoralised, according to Jamaat-i-Islami chief Qazi Hussain Ahmad.

He was addressing the Friday congregation at the Mahabat Khan Mosque here. “The kidnapping of more than 100 soldiers in South Waziristan is highly regrettable and it also shows the level of our forces’ morale in the region,” Mr Ahmad said.

Blaming President Gen Pervez Musharraf for the worsening law and order situation in the country, particularly the tribal areas, he said that the military operation had forced the tribesmen to take up arms against their own army.

He said that Gen Musharraf had deployed troops in the tribal region to protect American interests.

Accusing the government of killing innocent people during the Lal Masjid operation to please his “foreign masters” and urging people to get rid of what he termed inefficient and corrupt administration, he said that the people were venting their frustration by resorting to suicide bombings.

Later, he told reporters that Gen Musharraf should be asked to hand over powers to the Senate chairman to conduct free and fair elections in the country, warning that the people would resist the imposition of martial law.

Criticising PPP chairperson Benazir Bhutto for holding talks with Gen Musharraf, he warned that the Jamaat would mount a movement if the PPP tried to “sneak back into power”.

He said Gen Musharraf should resign, otherwise the judiciary would remove him.