RAWALPINDI, Sept 23: Condemning the arrest of leaders and workers of All Parties Democratic Movement (APDM), MNA Mohammad Hanif Abbasi has said the government’s action was at odds with the norms of democracy.

“The government is resorting to fascist tactics by not allowing political leaders to raise their concern against the methodology of presidential election,” the MNA said in a statement here on Sunday.

The stance of APDM about the election of president is premised on the constitution and morality, Mr Abbasi said, adding that it was legitimate and fundamental right of the opposition parties to stage protest against what he called an attempt to perpetuate army rule in the guise of democracy.

Democracy is about tolerance and accommodation of difference of opinion but this government was bent upon trampling democratic rights of the people, the MNA said, adding that the ruling elite had no respect for the Constitution and rule of law.

President Gen Pervez Musharraf came at the helm of affairs with the pledge of getting rid of sham democracy and replacing it with genuine one, but actually the worst form of fascism was unleashed on the people of Pakistan, he lamented.

Mr Abbasi said blatant disregard of the government for the basic law of land had thrown the country into uncertainty and political turmoil, but its apparatchik was focused on saving one man’s rule.

“The country could be put back on the path of normalcy and stability by holding free and fair elections under the neutral caretaker government,” the MNA added.

The arrests of opposition leaders, he said, was an act of intimidation and harassment aimed at suppressing people’s movement for the restoration of democratic rule in the country and appealed to the Supreme Court to take suo motu action to release political workers.

He said voice of the people could not be oppressed by the ruthless use of state might and the government policy of arrest and detention of political workers would further aggravate the situation and destabilise the country.