HYDERABAD, May 25: Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaf chief Imran Khan has stressed the need for national reconciliation and urged political parties to join mainstream politics in the larger interest of the country.

He was speaking at Hyderabad Press Club’s “point of view” programme on Thursday.

The programme was held to mark the golden jubilee celebrations of the club.

He said that by joining the mainstream, extremists became moderates and he cited the example of BJP in this context.

He said that all political forces must adopt a common programme to get rid of the authoritarian system and added that regardless of the policy of other political parties, PTI activists would come out on the roads in September.

When it was pointed out to him that the government had dubbed “charter of democracy” signed by Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif as a charter of loot and plunder, Mr Khan extended his full support to the charter.

He said that it was a thought provoking document in which both the leaders had admitted their mistakes and given a clear programme to further the cause of democracy.

Imran Khan said that PTI’s legal experts were drafting amendments for inclusion in the charter to guarantee independence of police, state institutions, NAB, election commission and the judiciary.

He said that the election commission should be as independent as in India and it should have its own independent secretariat.

He reiterated that independence of election commission would become a misnomer without independence of judiciary.

Responding to a question about dynastic politics and enforcement of rule of law in tribal areas, PTI chief agreed that the rule of law was essential.

He referred to report of UNO representative, who was given task of holding elections in Bosnia, and had categorically stated that democracy and elections were meaningless without enforcing the supremacy of law.

He said that without rule of law, the rule of “might is right” would prevail.

He said that under the circumstances, an honest man would not be able to contest elections against a rich man.

He referred to the last elections which, he said, had been held under the supervision of ISI and that the “Q” League was the product of the agency.

About the rule of law in tribal areas, Imran Khan said that the situation there was quite different.

He said that in 1947, the tribal area was independent and both Afghanistan and Pakistan were vying for this area.

He said that a delegation of independent areas opted for Pakistan and signed an agreement with the Quaid-i-Azam under which they agreed to abide by only 44 statutes.

He recalled that even the British Raj had no control over these areas.

He said that Gen Pervez Musharraf had violated the above treaty by launching an army operation.

Imran Khan said that not only innocent people had been killed but security forces had also suffered huge losses.

He said that there was an open rebellion in tribal areas and even the new governor of the NWFP was in favour of negotiations.

He said that the Waziristan operation was absolutely illegal as it did not have approval of parliament.

Mr Khan said that the same thing had happened in East Pakistan and instead of removing grievances of the eastern wing by handing over power to Shaikh Mujeebur Rehman, an army operation was launched with disastrous consequences.

Responding to another question about usurpation of right of sovereignty of indigenous people of Sindh, Imran Khan said that General Pervez Musharraf and agencies had thrust a minority government on Sindh.

He said that the PPP was in majority and the government was not the true representative of the people.

Answering another question about secret deals of PML-N and PPP with the Musharraf government, he said that if any party tried to stab the nation in the back, it would be considered a traitor.

He said that he would be the first person to launch a movement against such a party.

He made a frontal attack on President Musharraf and said that all his policies were aimed at pleasing the United States, adding that the government for all practical purposes had accepted slavery of USA.

He said that Gen Musharraf was trying to become Hosni Mubarak of Pakistan and that holding of free elections was unthinkable as long as he remained in power.

Answering a question about the role of MQM, he said it had given an ultimatum to the government on Balochistan and Kalabagh dam but it was now keeping quiet and the government policy remained unchanged.

He said that it was sheer opportunism and the MQM was damaging its own political credibility.

Lashing out at extravagance of government, he said Rs800 million had been spent only on foreign visits of the president and prime minister.

He said that the GHQ was being constructed on 2,500 acres of land while Pentagon existed only on 250 acres.

He said that land worth billions of rupees in Islamabad was being disposed of at a pittance.