RAWALPINDI, March 23: The Amir of Jamat-i-Islami, Qazi Hussain Ahmad, on Saturday rejected government’s proposal to hold referendum to formalize Gen Musharraf as president of Pakistan saying it is unconstitutional.

Speaking at a big rally of about 20,000 people, the JI Amir demanded of the army chief to hand over government to an interim set-up and go back to barracks.

“An interim set-up alone can hold impartial elections in the country. There is no provision for referendum in the constitution. The referendum will be equal to pre-poll rigging,’ Qazi said.

Speaking at his first public rally after his release, he said the army officers are administered oath that they would not indulge in government affairs and so there is no room for the army chief to become chief executive or president. Qazi said, if Gen Musharraf is interested in becoming president, he should step down as army chief, wait for two years as required by the constitution and then contest presidential elections, he pointed out.

If referendum is held, elections would be meaningless, he said and warned they would run a campaign against any such move by Musharraf. He said such campaigns would also be launched against the continuing price-hike, the imposition of new taxes, unemployment, deteriorating law and order situation and other illegal and what he termed anti-people steps being taken by the government. One such protest against the policies of government would he held on March 29, he announced.

He demanded constitution of an independent election commission to hold fair elections, restoration of the 1973 constitution, release of religious scholars and other Mujahideen and halt to crackdown on religious seminaries and mosques. Madaris and mosques are the fortresses of Islam, he said and announced that Jehad is not terrorism and would continue come what may.

He also rejected the formation of National Security Council being proposed by the government saying it would give the army permanent grip over democratic governments in future.

Terming the rally as the harbinger of political activities, Qazi also asked the government to immediately lift ban on political campaigns and electioneering. We have already broken the ban and would do so if stopped from our political rights in future, he said.

He said Jamat has entered into an alliance with other religious parties of Maulana Fazlur-Rehman, Maulana Samiul Haq, Maulana Sajjid Mir, Maulana Shah Ahmad Noorani and Syed Sajjid Ali Naqvi and would contest the forthcoming general elections on a single platform with the same symbol. The Alliance leaders will hold its first meeting on April 2 in Islamabad and frame a consensus manifesto and devise future strategy. He claimed the Alliance would have the popular backing.

Qazi also disclosed that he has received offer of talks from the government but the decision whether or not to meet president Musharraf would be taken in summit conference of the Alliance. He, however, ruled out the possibility to talk on referendum which, he said, is totally ‘unacceptable’.

The JI Amir blasted the government for joining the Coalition forces against Muslim Afghans and demanded immediate withdrawal of all facilities to the US. The government is pursuing American policies, he said and warned they would wage Jihad against pro- American policies and stand by Muslim brethren in Kashmir, Afghanistan, Palestine, Bosnia and Chechnya.

Qazi said that the whole nation is ready to lay down their lives for the security of the country but they would never accept a single man rule and dictatorship. He said it is in the country’s best interests: “The army to go back to barracks as soon as possible.”

He asked the participants to go to the streets and roads if he or any other religious leader was arrested. On this call, the whole gathering stood up and raised hands in affirmative.