SUKKUR, Nov 16: 'Huge public meetings will soon be held in Karachi, Multan, Lahore and Rawalpindi in protest against President Gen Pervez Musharraf's backing out on his promise of shedding the uniform by Dec 31.'

This was stated by Deputy Parliamentary Leader of the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal in the National Assembly and Jamaat Islami deputy chief Liaquat Baloch at a press conference here on Tuesday.

After the public meetings, the MMA might plan a long march to Islamabad and a meeting of its supreme council would be held on Nov 24 in Karachi to make a decision in this regard, he said.

The meeting would also discuss whether or not Maulana Fazlur Rehman and NWFP Chief Minister Akram Durrani should be allowed to attend the coming Security Council meeting, he said.

The MMA leader said that the Sindh government was not ready to allow the Karachi meeting but it would be held at any cost.

He said that the Alliance for Restoration of Democracy had also decided to join the MMA in its upcoming struggle.

He said that 17th constitutional amendment covered a number election issues like joint electorate, 18 years' age of voters and reserved seats for women and minorities. He added that the MMA had taken part in the elections under the Legal Framework Order with reservations and futuristic mindset to let the democratic process begin.

He alleged that military regimes had severely damaged Pakistan at national and international levels.