PESHAWAR, Aug 21: Pakistan People's Party Parliamentarians chief Makhdoom Amin Fahim has alleged that Gen Pervez Musharraf has restored the presidential form of government. Talking to Dawn here at the wedding ceremony of Khwaja Mohammad Khan Hoti's daughter , the PPP chief said actually Gen Musharraf was running the country.

He said long periods of dictatorship had caused irreparable loss to the political system and polarized the system. The sectarian and ethnic organizations could not be alternative to the political parties, which could steer the country out of uncertain circumstances, he added.

The PPP along with its allied political forces would continue to struggle for the early restoration of democracy as it was the only viable solution to save the country from internal and external challenges, he observed.

Makhdoom Amin said the rulers had installed NAB-frightened and hand-picked people in the federal cabinet.

About by-elections, the PPP leader said it was all expected, because the government had used all its resources to confine the general people to their houses. The PPP had been conveying its fears and the killing of its three activists proved that the government would not allow the opposition to bag any of the seats, he added.

He said despite hurdles the party would continue its peaceful struggle for the restoration of democracy in the country.