LAHORE, Aug 4: Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal parliamentary leader MNA Liaquat Baloch says immediate resignation is the only ‘safe exit’ left with Gen Pervez Musharraf. Briefing media after an MMA meeting at Mansoora here on Saturday, he said the general should quit his office immediately and hand over power to the Senate chairman for forming a government of national consensus and holding general elections in accordance with the constitution.

He said re-election of president from the present assemblies was against the constitution, and the MMA would try to stop it in every possible manner. “It could give a call for a march on Islamabad.”

He said the Majlis had decided to organise Tahafuz-i-Pakistan Road Caravans in Punjab during the third phase of its movement against the government from Aug 19 to Sept 10. The caravans would be organised in central Punjab on Aug 19 and 20, southern Punjab on Aug 26 and 27 and northern Punjab on Sept 2 and 3. “The people will be prepared for a big movement against the government by the end of September.”

He said the Majlis had constituted a panel of lawyers for approaching the Supreme Court in connection with the killing of innocent students in the Lal Masjid operation, murder of Nawab Akbar Bugti and the killing of people by the MQM in Karachi on May 12. The Majlis had also demanded constitution of a judicial commission for a probe into the Lal Masjid operation and unconditional release of its Khatib, Maulana Abdul Aziz, and his family.

He said a workers’ convention of the All-Pakistan Democratic Movement would he held in the provincial metropolis on Sunday (today) and a public meeting at Rawalpindi on Aug 14. The APDM would also hold public meetings at Ayub Stadium in Quetta on Aug 22 and Nishtar Park, Karachi, on Sept 2. Dates for public meetings in Lahore and Peshawar would be announced later.

He said the MMA had welcomed the release of PML-N President Javed Hashmi.

QAZI: MMA President Qazi Husain Ahmad said PPP chairperson Benazir Bhutto’s attitude suggested that she wanted to come to power with the help of the US and establishment instead of the people’s support.

Talking to newsmen at Mansoora, he said the Musharraf-Bhutto deal would not dent the opposition parties but damage the PPP itself.

Answering a question about his resignation as MNA, the Qazi said he had already informed the MMA supreme council about his intention.

He said those who wanted to follow suit should submit their resignations to the NA speaker instead of approaching him.

—Reporter