PESHAWAR, May 3: The Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam (Fazal) has demanded of the government to expel the American marines, which according to the JUI are conducting raids on seminaries in tribal villages along the Pak-Afghan border.

Speaking to the members of NWFP Executive Committee and district president of the party, provincial JUI Amir Maulana Amanullah expressed his concern over the presence of the American marines in Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata), and termed it repugnant to the national interests.

The committee reviewed the prevailing political situation, ‘so-called’ referendum and organisational affairs at a meeting held here on Thursday at the Darul Aloom Sarhad.

He congratulated the people for reposing no-confidence in the leadership of Gen Pervez Musharraf by staying away from what he called ‘dubious referendum’ on April 30. The successful boycott of the referendum by the nation had exposed the credibility of the rulers, he added.

The JUI leader called upon Gen Musharraf to resign forthwith, as the nation had rejected him by staging a dissociation from the referendum exercise on April 30.

The JUI, he said, would nominate candidates on every national and provincial assembly seat in the next general elections, and asked the interested candidates to submit their applications by May 22. A party delegation would conduct a province-wide tour, including Fata, from May 22 to June 24, he added.

JUI central committees , he said, would decide about any electoral alliance or seat-to-seat adjustment with other parties.