NOWSHERA, Oct 21: Pukhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party president Mahmood Khan Achakzai has stressed the need for unity among religious and progressive forces for ousting the military from politics.

Speaking at a gathering of district Bar here on Monday, he said democratic institutions could not flourish unless military was barred from politics.

Mr Achakzai urged the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal and the Alliance for the Restoration of Democracy to shun differences for launching afresh a movement for the restoration of “real democracy”.

“Time has come to pull the army out of power for good,” said the PMAP chief, adding that army should go back to the barracks.

He alleged that the government had announced the construction of Kalabagh Dam to create disharmony among the federating units.

Our Swabi correspondent adds: Speaking to party workers in different localities here, Mr Achakzai said that the secret agencies and bureaucracy were the main obstacles in the restoration of real democratic order in the country.

He said that both the Alliance for Restoration of Democracy (ARD) and the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal (MMA) should embark on collective struggle for the restoration of true democracy.

Achakzai asked the leadership of the ARD and MMA to join hands and initiate a collective struggle against president Musharraf.

The PMAP chief rejected the Legal Framework Order and asked the government to bring it in the parliament for approval.

He said that there was a dire need to create separate provinces for Punjabis, Balochis, Sindhis, Pathans and Siraikis. “Each language speaking community should have its own province which would strengthen the federation”, he added.

Achakzai opposed the construction of Kalabagh Dam and termed it a conspiracy against the Pakhtoons.

He asked army to stop meddling in the political affairs and focus on its professional duty.