QUETTA, Feb 7: Tehrik-i-Insaaf chief Imran Khan has said that there can be no stability in the country without provincial autonomy and independence of the judiciary.

Speaking at a seminar here organised by the Liberal

Forum on “Provincial autonomy” on Thursday, he said Balochistan had been neglected in the past which was creating discord between the federation and the Baloch people. He emphasised the need for addressing all grievances of Balochistan.

(According to AFP, Mr Khan was barred from entering Karachi when he landed at the Karachi airport from Quetta. Details on Page 17)

He criticised the military operation in Balochistan and Waziristan and said the ‘meaningless fight’ between the army and people would serve the interests of anti-Pakistan forces. He demanded an immediate end to atrocities.

He said the All Parties Democratic Movement (APDM) had decided to boycott the polls since it believed that the Musharraf-led government would neither hold transparent elections nor hand over power to representatives of the people.

He said the people and political parties had been demanding restoration of the pre-Nov 3 judiciary because for the first time in the history of the country judges had raised the voice for truth. He said the problems of the people could not be solved without independence of judiciary and accountability of the government.

He criticised the foreign and domestic policies of the government and blamed it for the political and constitutional crises in the country.

Imran Khan said his Tehrik-i-Insaaf party was a component of the APDM and it would not compromise on principles and appealed to the people to support its call for election boycott on February 18.