LAKKI MARWAT, July 27: Lakki Marwat District Bar President Mohammad Yaqoob Khan has resigned from his membership of a district peace committee, only a day after it was formed. Addressing a press conference here on Friday, Mr Yaqoob Khan said the peace committees formed at the tehsil and district levels were merely a drama, aimed at prolonging the unconstitutional rule of President Gen Pervez Musharraf.

“To become a member of the committee means supporting and endorsing the so called moderate policies of Musharraf’s government,” he said. He claimed that his name was included in the the peace body without taking him into confidence.

Terming it a conspiracy to divide the lawyers’ community by involving them in pro-government committees, the bar president asked lawyers to quit the membership of peace committees immediately and concentrate on the movement for ridding the country of a president in uniform, independence of judiciary, restoration of the 1973 Constitution and strengthening democratic institutions.

He held the provincial and federal governments responsible for the deteriorating law and order situation and called on rulers to change its anti-terrorism and ‘US appeasing’ policies and develop cordial relations with neighbouring countries, including Afghanistan.

“Law-enforcement agencies and peace committees cannot restore calm in a country where troops are given a free hand to kill its own people,” he said. He urged Gen Musharraf to step down and hand over power to the true representatives of masses after holding free and fair elections under the supervision of an interim government.