KARACHI, Oct 7: Leader of the Opposition in Senate Mian Raza Rabbani has strongly condemned the arrests, baton-charge and firing at lawyers and political workers by law-enforcement agencies’ personnel on the occasion of presidential elections on Saturday throughout the country, particularly in Peshawar, Lahore and Karachi.

In a statement issued here on Sunday, he said that General Musharraf’s eligibility to contest the presidential election was still questionable as the case was pending before the Supreme Court.

Mr Rabbani said the election process had lost its legitimacy as the entire opposition had boycotted the poll and many legislators had tendered their resignations from the national and provincial assemblies.

He deplored that state terrorism had become the present government’s policy which was condemnable in strongest terms. The regime must realise that no amount for state power could help perpetuate an unpopular regime, he added.

The PPP senator said that the only solution to bring an end to the political crisis and uncertainty was to hold free, fair and transparent elections in the country under a neutral government of national consensus and to ensure a peaceful transition of powers to the elected representatives.—PPI