PESHAWAR, Nov 11: Awami National Party president Asfandyar Wali Khan has called upon all democratic forces to unite and launch a joint struggle against the military regime which, he said, had destroyed the Constitution and democracy in the country.

He expressed dissatisfaction over the promises of general election made by him.

He said that instead of repeating its hackneyed promises, the government should withdraw the state of emergency, restore the Constitution, reinstate superior court judges and rescind ordinances fettering press freedom. These measures, he added, could prevent the political situation from deteriorating further.

He demanded an unconditional and immediate release of judges, lawyers and political activists detained in their homes and in different prisons across the country.

Mr Khan advised Gen Musharraf to step down the presidency and move his forces back to barracks.

He said it was difficult to believe that without fulfilling these basic constitutional and democratic requirements, the military rulers would hold free, fair and transparent elections.

He said an alarming increase in poverty and crime was another failure of the military regime which had failed to provide jobs even to educated youths.

He said the cosmetic measures taken by the government were only a temporary solution to colossal problems.

He vowed that the ANP, with the support of other political forces, would continue its peaceful struggle for the withdrawal of emergency, restoration of the Constitution, reinstatement of judges and freedom of the press.