Imran hints at anti-Govt drive with PML (N), JI

ISLAMABAD—Chairman Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaaf (PTI) Imran Khan has said that Pakistan Muslim League-N, Jamaat-i-Islami and PTI will initiate anti-government campaign jointly, if no other party agreed to do so.
Talking to newsmen in Parliament lodges here on Tuesday, he said PONAM, Alliance for Restoration of Democracy (ARD) and Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal (MMA) were ready to initiate anti-Musharraf campaign along with PTI after setting up an alliance.
Imran said during meeting with Pakistan Muslim League-N chief it was observed that holding free and fair elections were impossible in presence of General Pervez Musharraf, thus struggle to remove President Musharraf’s regime was need of the hour. He said the days of dictatorship have been counted and anti-Musharraf regime campaign would be initiated in coming weeks. He said Mian Nawaz would instigate ARD and he personally held talks with MMM President Qazi Hussain Ahmed who assured full support. “If no one will come forward the PTI, PML-N and Jamait-i-Islami will initiate the campaign jointly”, he said.
Imran said General Musharraf was playing game to create a rift in opposition parties. That’s what he has done during Protection of Women Act issue.
He said Air Martial (retd) Asghar Khan’s statement that Pakistan Air Force has no system to conduct air raids at night time, he said US forces carried out strike killing innocent people in Bajour but the government despite protecting the citizen took the blame on it head.
He said Benazir and Nawaz Sharif must be allowed to return as it was their constitutional and fundamental right.
The MMA president and Jamaat-e-Islami ameer Qazi Hussain Ahmad has said he is trying that all opposition parties should launch collective movement against Gen Musharraf dictatorship in shape of a grand alliance in order to rid the country of US slavery.
He was talking to newsmen at Mansoorah on Tuesday after the meeting of Jamaat Islami central working council. Qazi said the basic aim of JI is that all MMA’s unity should be maintained at all costs despite petty differences and all parties should perform the duty of protecting country’s ideology, culture, education system, and constitution with total unity. He said at present Washington is attacking our religion and Islamic values through Gen Musharraf, and basic changes are being made in constitution, education system and religious values. It is high time that all political and religious parties should run a united campaign in order to block the way of US intervention for ever.
To a question, he said JI working council is deliberating on the option of resigning from parliament but the final decision will be taken by the MMA supreme council. Until then, JI members will continue boycott of NA sessions and select committees. He said he is not drawing his salary as MNA for the last one year. He stressed that removal of Gen Musharraf from power is necessary for protecting the country and our struggle for this objective will continue at every cost without any weakness. He said we will chalk out a program for anti Musharraf movement in the executive committee.
Qazi Hussain Ahmad said Gen Musharraf is proposing to surrender on Kashmir cause without having any mandate. He said he has indirect contacts with Nawaz Sharif while Imran Khan has also held talks with him in London. He said MMA’s talks with ARD are still continued since we want to remain united on the matters we had settled earlier. The three main issues of our unity with them are end of Gen Musharraf dictatorship, interim government and independent election commission, and restoration of constitution before Oct 12, 99.

—Agencies