Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA) President Qazi Hussain Ahmed said on Monday that there was ideological affinity between his party and the Pakistan Army, including the Inter-Service Intelligence, over the war in Afghanistan against Russia and the Kashmir dispute, but the army was now “betraying” the religious alliance. “Our men are being handed over to enemies of Pakistan at the behest of the US. Pakistan is being reduced to a parasite and a dependent state,” said Qazi at a press conference along with Gen (r) Hameed Gul in the Supreme Court building.
Qazi called for eliminating the armyÂ’s role in the countryÂ’s politics. He said the MMA would start a campaign in consultation with other political parties against the armyÂ’s political role.
Replying to a question about Gen Pervez Musharraf’s election as president, he said Musharraf should have to wait to contest the election for two years – a mandatory beak for a public servant after retirement who wants to stand for the election.
Qazi criticised the government for not inviting Syria, Lebanon and Iran to a recent meeting of foreign ministers of various Muslim states.