ISLAMABAD Nov 2: Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) on Friday termed the government allegations against Javed Hashmi as “ridiculous and baseless” and said he was being victimized for his pronouncements for the restoration of democracy in the country.

Chaudhry Ahsan Iqbal, chief organizer of PML-N, told a news conference here today that instead of taking the political leadership of the country into confidence, president Musharraf’s government had unnecessarily chosen the path of confrontation.

Flanked by former Sindh governor Mamnoon Hussain, Jameel Bokhari, Mushahidullah and Siddiqul Farooq, the PML chief organizer challenged Gen. Musharraf to swap his assets and properties with that of Mr Javed Hashmi.

Mr Ahsan also demanded formation of a national judicial commission, headed by the chief justice of Pakistan, to inquire into the assets amassed by the president and other generals during their service on the basis of the assets they and their families possessed at the time of their taking commisison in the army.

Ahsan Iqbal ridiculed president Musharraf’s claim of being a moderate ruler, who had allowed the opposition to criticize his government. “In reality, his (Musharraf’s) administration is chasing and punishing anyone criticizing his style of governance and his policies.”

He said although the military government’s policy on Afghanistan had already proved a fiasco, it was now making hollow claims of enjoying the majority support of the people.

The former deputy chariman planning commission regretted that instead of creating an atmosphere of harmony, tranquility and peaceful co-existence, the military government was engaged in witch hunting and victimization through its so-called accountability bureau.