MARDAN, Oct 14: Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) Secretary General Sar Anjam Khan has expressed the fear that the country is inching towards anarchy and civil war because of the absence of parliament, wrong policies of the military regime and its interference in Afghanistan.

Talking to Dawn here, Sar Anjam claimed that military rulers had always conspired against the political parties and their governments which not only divided the country into two but also left us groaning under a debt mountain of $38 billion.

He claimed that $31 billion were devoured by the generals while only $5 billion were set aside for developmental works over the past 50 years.

He held Gen Pervez Musharraf responsible for the present situation where the people had risen in protest against the attack on Afghanistan.

Had the government refused all-out support to the US, like Iran, the country would not be witnessing such a frightful situation, he claimed.

He claimed that Gen Pervez misguided the nation by putting out “false statements”. For instance, he said, the president assured the nation that only intelligence service and airspace had been given to the US but subsequent developments proved that ground facilities like airports of Pasni and Jakababad were also lent. “This is dishonesty and fraud with the nation,” he remarked.

Sar Anjam contested the view that Gen Musharraf enjoyed support of the people’s majority and challenged him to conduct a referendum on support or otherwise for the US attack, to assess his approval rating.

He advised the military rulers to immediately quit the government and install a national government comprising all political parties capable of handling the crisis the country was faced with.

ULEMA’S MEETING: A gathering of the local Ulama invited by NWFP Religious and Auqaf Minister Qari Ruhullah became the victim of differences and some of the Ulama walked out of the meeting when the minister made remarks in favour of the US attacks on Afghanistan, and against the Taliban here on Saturday.

Speaking to the Ulema at the office of the district Nazim, Qari Ruhullah observed that those Ulema, who were protesting against the government for supporting the US and damaging and endangering property and lives of the people, were serving the cause of the Jews and the Christians.

He said leaders of various religious sections had promised that their workers would not harm any property and life, but it seemed that they had no control over their workers, who had damaged public and private property worth millions of rupees and had caused killings of innocent people. He urged the people to remain peaceful.

He stressed that the country needed harmony and unity and not protests and violence. He said that the country was passing through a very delicate situation and the government was making efforts to save Afghanistan from destruction.

Hafiz Hussain Ahmed, the chairman of the Defense for Afghanistan Council, Mardan chapter, protested against the remarks of the minister.

Hafiz Ahmed and five other Ulema demanded that the minister resign. They walked out of the meeting in protest.