LAHORE, Nov 13: MMA president Qazi Hussain Ahmad and PPP chairperson Benazir Bhutto have agreed that collective struggle by all opposition parties for removing the present unconstitutional and illegal military government is the need of the hour.

Both the leaders reached this understanding when Benazir Bhutto called Jamaat-e-Islami ameer Qazi Hussain Ahmad on phone at Mansoorah and discussed the prevailing political situation in the country, says a JI spokesman.

According to JI spokesman, both the leaders termed the continuation of martial law highly dangerous for security and solidarity of the country and agreed that instead of individual struggle under the present circumstances if political parties joined hands for collective strategy it will give vigor and impetus in the political movement and facilitate the removal of military regime of Gen Musahrraf.

Benazir Bhutto identified that the single point agenda should be the restoration of constitution and democracy, adding that further negotiations could be held on improving the agenda. She said formal and informal talks and contacts among opposition parties should continue if the present circumstances permitted, the spokesman added.

Qazi Hussain Ahmad welcomed the statements by Benazir Bhutto declaring Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry as chief justice of Pakistan and refusing to accept Gen Musharraf as COAS and the president, and added that removal of Gen Musharraf and restoration of Chief Justice Iftikhar MOhamamd Chaudhry and other judges refusing oaths under PCO could become the common ground among opposition parties for a collective strategy. Qazi said at present the nation is looking up to the opposition parties and their collective struggle to rid the country of Musharraf dictatorship is the need of the hour.

Qazi Hussain Ahmad also expressed condolence on the Karachi bomb blasts tragedy and sympathies with the relatives of PPP workers who lost their lives. He told Benazir Bhutto that JI workers staged widespread demonstrations in Peshawar on Tuesday and police tortured them brutally and wounded them with cartridge pellets fired in the teargas shells, besides arresting scores of them. Benazir Bhutto condemned the police torture on JI workers and said opposition parties could counter such government tactics by joining hands. Both the leaders agreed to maintain contacts and a formal or informal meeting between them is expected within next few days, the spokesman said.


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