LAHORE, March 23: Speakers at a seminar on Tuesday were of the opinion that the army and the judiciary were responsible for the present sad state of affairs of the country.

Presided over by National Assembly's former speaker, the seminar was organized by the Thinkers and Speakers Forum at a local hotel on Tuesday to mark the Pakistan Day.

Makhdoom Khaliquzzaman said Supreme Court judges from the Punjab were to be blamed for giving the doctrine of necessity which was used by army dictators time and again for their vested interest.

Recalling Sindh's role in the making of Pakistan, he said now the Punjab had to play its role in safeguarding the country. Referring to political mistakes by various past governments, he regretted that had Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif accepted each other wholeheartedly in 1988, she would not have to go to Nine Zero (MQM's headquarters in Karachi) and rather Altaf Husain would have to visit 70 Clifton (for government formation).

The Makhdoom from Hala criticized intelligence agencies as well as politicians like Chaudhry Shujaat Husain for foul play in the formation of Sindh government in 2002.

Stressing the need for a national leadership in the current scenario, the Makhdoom said if the masses were ready to repose confidence in Ms Bhutto and Mr Sharif, they should be allowed to return.

Warning Gen Musharraf of the fragility of a 'bogus' system established by disintegrating various political parties, he said the masses should be allowed to elect their own leadership.

He said awami policies would have to be adopted to give relief to the hungry and shelterless masses instead of just increasing forex reserves. He also urged the need for converting some of the dollar reserves into Euros like China.

Tehrik-i-Insaaf chief Imran Khan called for imposing an education emergency and launching a joint public-private sector movement to improve literacy rate. Likewise, small industries and agriculture were also needed immediate attention and subsidies as both sectors could provide massive employment opportunities.

He said complaints of smaller provinces were because they had lost trust in institutions like judiciary. He regretted that civilian governments were also responsible for the weakening of institutions.

Commenting on Wana operation, he alleged that facts were being concealed from the people to avert their wrath as the army was committing cruelties to the tribesmen there.

He was critical of the handling of the nuclear proliferation issue as the steps taken by the government had provided an excuse to the so-called world powers to take action against Islamabad.

Imran Khan said the Muslim world was facing humiliation because their rulers were American proteges. He said institutions were developed by men of integrity who did not seek any favours from any quarter for their loyalties.

He deplored that judiciary had never given any major decision against the establishment so far. He said whoever came into power - whether military or civilian - gave priority to the continuation of his own rule instead of upholding the Constitution.

He opposed education without value system saying it would not serve the purpose. Urging the need for a new political culture, he said certain laws should be introduced for curtailing role of money in politics.

Imran Khan said the army had been calling the shots in politics since 1951 and it did not want to allow elected representatives of the people to come into power.