KARACHI, May 10: The Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal acting chairman, Qazi Hussain Ahmad, on Monday renewed his threat that if Gen Musharraf did not give up his military position , the MMA would march on Islamabad to force him to do so.

"Gen Musharraf is bound to give up his uniform and the military position this year, and if he does not do so it will be a violation of the constitution and there can be another coup d'etat and martial law. If the military does not withdraw from politicking and governance, we will march on Islamabad," said the MMA chief while speaking at 'Meet the Press' programme of the Karachi Press Club.

Qazi Hussain Ahmad referred to the circumstances that led to MMA's controversial and questionable support to Gen Musharraf on making LFO part of the constitution through 17th amendment and said that the alliance had provided the two-third support to push the democratic dispensation forward and make way for the politicians to play their role.

He was of the view that as the cutting away point for giving up the military uniform was approaching nearer, Gen Musharraf was becoming restive and was using all means to create dissension and fragment political forces through coercive means and inducements.

He said that Gen Musharraf should realize that such policies could also have negative bearing not only against his person but also against the country. In this context, he referred to the fragmentation of the country owing to Yahya's policies.

He cautioned Gen Musharraf to desist from doing so and also advised members of the parliament who were involved in furthering his policies. When asked if he believed that there would be any change in Gen Musharraf's policies once he was not in uniform, Qazi Hussain replied in affirmative and said that "unpopular" policies would not be possible to follow.

He said that parliament's supremacy would be prime after Musharraf gave up his military position. Qazi Hussain also accused the provincial government of manipulating coming by-elections in Sindh. He claimed that certain assurances had been given to the MMA by the Election Commissioner regarding by-elections.

According to him, it was agreed that no minister or adviser would be allowed to enter polling stations. However, he alleged that the provincial government after meeting a member of the provincial election commission got that understanding reversed. This, he said, was a clear manifestation of the government's real intentions.

He also deplored the Hyderi mosque blast and said that it was a conspiracy of the US agents who were bent upon creating a situation in which people should kept themselves away from the mosque.

He appreciated the harmony shown by different sects and emphasized that in order to frustrate such conspiracies people of all sects should pray together. Critisizing the government for making drastic changes in school syllabi, Qazi Hussain claimed that there were 69 verses of Iqbal's poetry in textbooks which had been reduced to 19.

He also flayed the government for eliminating some of the Quranic verses from textbooks besides chapters on freedom struggle against the British rule and Muslim heroes. He alleged that this all was being done under US pressure and without the consent of parliament.

Qazi Hussain Ahmad also questioned Gen Musharraf's policy of extending unqualified support to the American policy on international terrorism when its definition had not been given.

He said that the US and its allies had dubbed the Muslim societies as sanctuary for the terrorists. However, he added, the US and its allies kept mum when Sheikh Yassin and others were killed by the Zionists. He said that innocent people were being killed everyday by Israelis. "Is intrusion in Waziristan not an act of terrorism?" he questioned.

He said that images from Abu Gharib prison in Iraq and its brutal use of force in Falujah in which hundreds of people were killed was also an act of terrorism.

He slated the government for becoming a non-Nato ally of the US. "I want to know from Musharraf against whom has he decided to become America's ally. Why has he allied himself with Washington against Muslim movements? Do we have enmity with any Muslim country?" he asked.

Regarding Wana operation, he appreciated the prudence shown in this matter by the Pakistan army which, he said, very rightly decided to pull back and allowed the MMA with an opportunity to resolve the matter through jirga.

Qazi Hussain emphasised that no foreigner should be allowed on Pakistan's soil without a visa and nobody should be permitted to use this territory for his personal agenda. He claimed that during the operation no foreigner was apprehended and asked the government to keep its part of the bargain.

When asked that in view of the confidence building measures between India and Pakistan, the resistance struggle in the Indian occupied Kashmir had subdued, the MMA chief did not agree and said the struggle was still continued.

About Pakistan-US relations, he said that the interests of both countries were different. The US was a strategic partner of India and was using Pakistan only to foster its agenda against China and Iran.