PESHAWAR, Feb 22: The National Democratic Front on Tuesday described what it called the unchecked role of intelligence agencies in political affairs and the culture of injustice as the main factors hindering the political process and called for the restoration of the 1973 Constitution in its true form and establishment of an independent and fair election commission.

The front's central working committee, in its meeting held here, said an independent commission should hold election and restore true democracy and rule of law in the country.

Talking to newsmen after the meeting, the provincial organizer of the NDF, Mian Burhanuddin, said the front's leadership had decided to pursue masses' interests not to allow those politicians to join the organization who had been involved corruption.

He said those judges who had taken oath under the Legal Framework order should not be part of the judiciary. NDF Convenor Mohammad Asghar Khan said intelligence agencies had decisive and uncontrolled role in national politics since 1970 and their undue interference had pushed genuine politicians to a corner, causing irreparable damage to national interest.

He said the interference had made the country more centralized and created a feeling of insecurity among the small federating units. He said the Balochistan crisis was also a result of the same situation and the reservations of the elements involved in it could be amicably addressed if free and fair election was held.

He alleged that both the Alliance for the Restoration of Democracy and the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal did not wish to serve the masses. He stressed the importance of an independent election commission for the restoration of true democracy.

Only a genuine and transparent political system could save the country from further losses, he said. Replying to a question, Asghar Khan said the people also shared the responsibility for the current situation because they voted for the tested leaders. He said the front would participate in the next election but it would enter into alliance with only those parties which had a clean history.