ISLAMABAD, Aug 11: Jamaat-i-Islami Secretary-General Syed Munawar Hasan on Sunday warned that any rigging before or during the polls would lead to a more forceful movement than that of 1977.

Speaking at a news conference, the JI leader said: “We have decided to contest the polls in all circumstances as we know that any rigging would bring the downfall of the military rulers closer.”

He declared the chief election commissioner as “chief rigging commissioner” in light of his conduct in the “farce” referendum.

HE SAID: “Our demand of replacing the CEC and holding of elections under an interim government stands, still we will not leave the field empty and contest the coming polls even if these demands were not met.”

He expressed his doubts about the holding of elections.

He said: “We will restore, on coming to power, the 1973 Constitution as it was on Oct 12, 1999, when the army took over reins of the country for the so called amendments package proposed by the rulers, if accepted, would practically eliminate the spirit of the Constitution.”

Munawar Hasan said the polls would be contested on anti-US basis and those who had supported and given in to the illogical demands for the use of airspace and logistic facilities and handed over the country to the Federal Bureau of Investigation would be dealt a fatal blow.

Asked if Pakistan would again side with the United States in its attack on Iraq, he said: “Our generals were responsible for genocide of Muslims in Afghanistan more than Bush and Blair, for they surrendered the national sovereignty to remain in power, and they are expected to repeat it.”

About the reported disputes in Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal over seats distribution, he said 75 per cent of the adjustment had been completed on provincial level and the remaining issues would be settled in Aug 13 central parliamentary board meeting.

He said MMA’s seat adjustments with other parties would be done on the principle of similarity of views on national issues.

Referring to recent unveiling of American nuclear doctrine, he said there was a need of stopping the US from putting the world peace in danger by introducing order of its own choice under which any ‘rogue country’ holding nuclear weapons or not could be targeted.

Mr Hasan said Gen Musharraf and other supporters of US should make the Bush administration realise that its war on terrorism had turned into state terrorism aimed at saving Israel from Iraqi attack and giving free hand to Russia and India against Chechens and Kashmiris respectively.

He warned EU and other international observers to refrain from interfering in the internal matters of the country.