OKARA, June 1: “We are ready to meet President Gen Musharraf but the general is on a weak footing and is unable to face the opposition leaders.”

This was stated by Jamaat-i-Islami central naib amir Liaquat Baloch while addressing a rally in Chak 18-GD, some 15 kilometres from here, to launch election campaign in national assembly constituency NA-144 where district amir Dr Liaquat Ali Kausar is the candidate.

Mr Baloch said the government-backed alliance has crashed before taking off. The National Alliance has failed after the reservations expressed by Prof Tahirul Qadri, he added.

He claimed that whenever army came to power, it damaged the country.

But, he said, in the present situation when India had amassed its forces on the border, the Jamaat would side with the army to defend the country.

Mr Baloch said Chief Election Commissioner Irshad Hasan Khan had become a disputed figure after the bogus referendum. The sham referendum has weakened the position of Gen Musharraf both within and outside the country, he added.

He demanded appointment of an ‘impartial’ election commissioner in consultation with political and religions parties.

He said the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal (MMA) would contest elections from one platform and symbol and Dr Kausar would be the candidate.

Mr Baloch said the MMA would announce election adjustment with the PML(N) and other parties in the last week of June.

He said there was a big chance for the religious parties in future as there was no attraction in the slogans of roti, kapra aur makan.

Central deputy secretary general and chairman of political committee of Jamaat Farid Piracha said the MMA would provide a leadership which would be the custodian of the poor and labour class of the country.

Heavy contingents of police were deployed at the venue to ward off any untoward incident.