LAHORE, Nov 1: The Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal has given a call for observing the coming Friday as a protest day against the “increasing US interference” in the country’s internal affairs.
Peaceful demonstrations would be held outside mosques, where prayer leaders would be urged to pass resolutions during sermons against the army operation in south Waziristan, being conducted at the behest of the US, MMA parliamentary leader Qazi Husain Ahmad said.
Talking to reporters here on Saturday, he said a “remove Musharraf” movement would be organized after Ramazan.
He said the operation in the tribal belt had endangered the national integrity.
Innocent citizens were being killed by Indian shelling in Neelam valley, AJK, but the army, instead of providing cover to the Kashmiris in the disputed areas, had turned to tribesmen who had always been loyal to the country.
“This is being done on a signal of the forces inimical to national interests,” he added.
He also said supremacy of the civil government and parliament was all the more necessary to check these wrongdoings, and urged the masses to come forward and fight for the cause.
Ruling out the possibility of any change in Hudood Laws, the Qazi said, attempts in this regard were being made at the behest of western powers.
Answering a question, the Qazi, who is also the amir of the Jamaat-i-Islami, said they were trying their best to settle the LFO issue through peaceful talks.
Otherwise, people were ready to come out on roads on a call of their leaders.
Asked if it meant that the alliance was ready to hold further talks against its earlier stance on this issue, he said “their utmost endeavour is to settle the matter through peaceful means.”
Speaking at the oath-taking ceremony of JI Punjab amir Liaquat Baloch, he said efforts were being made to change the country’s culture.
To face all these challenges, he said, the Punjab was being given a new leadership and a new philosophy.
He said the country was facing crisis, as law of the land was suspended and army, at the behest of the United States, was interfering in every sphere of life.
Gen Musharraf, he said, had no justification for staying in rule as the three-year term given by the Supreme Court had ended a year ago.
He regretted that parliament had come into being a year ago, but the constitution had not yet been fully restored.
Referring to ARD president Javed Hashmi’s arrest, Qazi Husain termed the charges under which he had been taken into custody ridiculous. “In fact, the generals should be tried on treason charges for violating and keeping in abeyance the constitution.”
“As they are plundering the exchequer, they should not expect that the public will respect them any more,” he said while criticizing the army.
The MMA leader also criticized the higher judiciary, saying “it has been ineffective, especially against Gen Musharraf and other generals.”