LAHORE, Oct 14: Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal vice-president Qazi Hussain Ahmad on Monday warned the authorities that they would face a popular uprising if they denied the MMA its “right to rule the country”.

Speaking to a big gathering of charged party workers outside the Lahore airport on his first visit to the city after elections, he said the masses had voted the MMA to power, which thus had the right to run the country according to its basic ideology.

He rejected the concern being shown by the US and India over the victory of religious forces in the polls. “We have come (to power) through votes and not violence. We are part of a democratic process, which should scare nobody.”

He said the MMA would work to implement the Objectives Resolution, which had been prepared by the people who had founded the country. The Resolution guaranteed independence of judiciary, provincial autonomy, and rights of women and minorities, he observed.

He said he had been asked as to what would be his priorities in power. “I replied that the masses — the young generation — are our priority. We want to provide them education and job opportunities, and alleviate poverty.”

The have-nots had a right over the country’s resources, he said, vowing to protect their rights.

Denying all reports of differences among leaders of the MMA, he said they could continue to take all decisions after mutual consultations.

The Qazi, who had returned to the National Assembly for the first time on Oct 10, said the mandate was a trial for them. “We are not candidates for the posts of prime minister and chief minister and are ready to sacrifice anything for our unity.”

He regretted that proteges of the West had been ruling the country during the last 55 years. They had introduced Western civilization in the country and plundered the national wealth, he added.

The people had voted us for a big change in the system, he said.