Islamabad, May 16 (IANS) Pakistan’s opposition leaders staged a sit-in at the National Assembly vowing to continue the movement to oust President Pervez Musharraf to “save the judiciary, end dictatorship, restore the constitution and bring real democracy to the country.”
They Tuesday spoke of forging “a grand alliance” and said the opposition was united in its fight against Musharraf.
Taking the cue from fellow-opposition leader, cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan, they announced that they would move a British court seeking legal action against their common political adversary – exiled Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM) chief Altaf Hussain, who guides his party from London.
“Legal experts are being consulted to take up the issue of Hussain’s subversive activities with the British government and courts with special reference to the Karachi killings,” opposition leaders told media Tuesday, The Daily Times reported.
Maulana Fazlur Rehman and Liaquat Baloch of Muttahida Majlis-e-Amail (MMA), Sherry Rehman of Pakistan Peoples Party and Tehmina Daultana and Khwaja Asif of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz) demanded resignations of President Musharraf and the Sindh government and apologies from the MQM chief and other leaders, alleging that they were responsible for last week’s Karachi killings.
They also called for a judicial inquiry into the killings. Once all opposition parties reach a consensus, an assembly session will be convened to debate the Karachi situation and declare the MQM a terrorist organisation, they said.
Fazlur Rehman said the government lacked the courage to face the opposition in parliament.
He said the opposition was united and a grand alliance would launch a movement to oust Musharraf.
Baloch said Musharraf, Sindh governor and MQM officials were responsible for the Karachi killings and the MMA had evidence of that.