RAWALPINDI, Aug 21: Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal (MMA) has criticized Gen Pervez Musharraf’s decision to continue as president and army chief for next five years.

“Who has given Gen Musharraf the right to declare himself as army chief and the president for next five years,” said vice- president of the MMA and Amir Jamaat-i-Islami Qazi Hussain Ahmed while speaking at a seminar, organized by the Jamaat-i-Islami to express solidarity with the people of Palestine here on Wednesday.

He said the MMA did not accept this decision and Musharraf should immediately step down.

Qazi Hussain Ahmed regretted that Muslims were being persecuted everywhere in the world. The JI amir stressed the need for establishing an international forum for the Muslims to raise their voice in support of the Muslims in Palestine, Bosnia, Chechnya, Kashmir and other parts of the world. He deplored the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) had failed to take any steps to check brutalities against Muslims in different parts of the world.

He also criticized the rulers of Muslim countries for siding with infidels. Citing the example of Afghanistan, he said Musharraf supported the US in its so-called war against terrorism in which scores of innocent Afghan Muslims were killed.

Qazi Hussain Ahmed asked the people to support the MMA in the forthcoming general elections. He stressed the need for the unity to stand up against such rulers, who were supporting the West and the US against.

Speaking on the occasion, PML leader Raja Zafarul Haq also emphasized the need for unity among the Muslim countries. He said such seminars should be held regularly to highlight the problems being faced by the Muslims.