Army not to be allowed to govern, ARD leaders

Political parties would not allow the military to run the country according to its wishes and it would be restricted to function within the constitutional framework; and the struggle for the restoration of democracy would continue till its success, said various political leaders of the opposition parties on Tuesday, while addressing a function held in connection with the second death anniversary of Nawabzada Nasrullah Khan.
Chairman, Alliance for the Restoration of Democracy and President PPP MNA Makhdoom Amin Fahim lauded Nawabzada Nasrullah Khan’s efforts for democracy and creating various anti-dictatorship alliances. “It was because of his efforts that the Pakistan Peoples Party and the Pakistan Muslim League (N), which were otherwise considered to be parties of divergent natures, were brought on one platform,” he added. While referring to the agenda of the opposition, he stated that they wanted rule of the majority, not of the minority (army). “Our objectives are to restore democracy, and the constitution to its pre-October 12, 1999 form. We will thwart any effort made at bringing the presidential system in the country.
Jamaat-e-Islami Chief and President Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal Qazi Hussain Ahmed said all the opposition had agreed on a declaration that Pervez Musharraf was illegally holding both of his present designations, that is, the COAS and the president of the country. “We have consensus before the next general elections, he will not be there to hold the polls.” Central Secretary General ARD, Iqbal Zafar Jhagra lauded Nawabzada Nasrullah for his struggle for democracy. “If he would have been alive, no dictators would have stayed for this long. Present regime has given nothing to people except problems, which have multiplied over the years,” he added.
Central Secretary General PPP Jehangir Badar stressed the need to bring all the leaders at one platform.
Daughter of the incarcerated Makhdoom Javed Hashmi MNA, Memoona Hashmi said under the present predicament Nawabzada would have been a great source of inspiration and would kept the struggle alive against all odds. “He has been part of all the anti-dictatorship alliances. President General Musharraf is an illegal incumbent, and taking all decisions in one-man’s capacity without consulting the masses.
Chief Pakistan Democratic Party Nawabzada Mansoor Ali Khan, who also presided over the function, thanked the leaders and attendees in the end.
Syed Kafeel Bokhari, Syed Ghazanfar Ali Qararvi, Humayun Zubair Mirza, Muneer Ahmed Khan, Malik Hakmeen Khan, Abdul Qadar Hassan, President PTI (Punjab) Admiral (r) Javed Iqbal, Abdul Qadeer Khamosh, Ahsan Altaf, Saif Ullah Saif, Zahid Hussain Abbasi, Hameed-ud-Din Masharaqi, Gen (r) Hameed Gul, Sajida Mir and Syed Muneer Hussain Gilani also addressed the function. While on the same evening, a Mehfil-e-Mushaira was held at the Lahore Press Conference in connection with the second death anniversary of Nawabzada Nasrullah Khan, in which renowned poets from across the country participated.