LAHORE, Jan 10: Tehrik-i-Istiqlal president Rehmat Khan Wardag has urged politicians not to make uniform an issue and instead cooperate with Gen Pervez Musharraf in executing projects of national importance.

Speaking at a press conference here on Monday, he said unemployment, price-hike and law and order were the real issues and all political parties should help the government in tackling them.

The opposition parties, he said, should force the government to launch mega projects of Kalabagh Dam and other water reservoirs which could help in addressing these problems.

He warned that delay in the projects would damage the economy, especially the agriculture sector. Appealing to the masses to enthusiastically take part in forthcoming local bodies polls, Mr Wardag urged the government to ensure that the exercise should be fair, transparent and impartial.

He reiterated his party's demand of setting some educational qualification for Nazims and councillors to make the system more effective. About religion column in passports, he said both the government and the opposition must not make it an issue. The government, he added, should not re-open the settled issues and keep in view religious emotions of the masses.