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Negotiation with MQM favourable

Army has extremely

positive thinking not

to take over: Beg

KARACHI: General (Retd) Mirza Aslam Beg chief of Awami Qiadat Party (AQP) on Sunday said that the present government should be allowed to complete its five year tenure in order to further strengthen democratic values in the country.

Talking to newsmen at a local club he said that now there was "extremely positive thinking in the army not to come into power again and let the democratic process continue in the country. At the same time I think that the March 20, 1996 judgment of the Supreme Court was historic and should be implemented in letter and spirit. The Supreme Court judgment and positive role of the army will lead to further strengthening democratic institutions in the country."

Former army chief felt that now the bureaucracy should restore its status by mending its ways.

On the situation in Karachi he was of the view that a political solution through talks with sincerity be found in the larger national interest. He said arrests of innocent people in Karachi by the police and taking money for their release should be stopped forthwith as it was greatest injustice and creating hatred.

He said that operation against the MQM was continuing for the last four years and its leadership was not being allowed to play its due role. This has resulted in emergence of splinter and pressure group within the MQM which happens in such a situation. He recalled that during days of General Zia-ul-Haq Al Zulfiqar Organisation was also formed. He however did not foresee any bloodshed in Karachi.

Answering a question Gen. Aslam Beg said that confrontation in politics and hurling of accusations of calling rival politicians as traitors was a dangerous trend in the country. Moreover price hike was increasing and there was no hope of the government checking it.

The AQP chief told another questioner that the MQM at present had adopted a low profile and the government's claim of restoring peace in Karachi and nabbing terrorists was not correct. There was only temporary peace in this city as MQM had changed its policy. He believed that vote bank of the MQM had not been broken by the government, rather the MQM will get more seats in next polls.

The former army chief was highly critical of United States and said "all important decisions in Pakistan were taken with the blessings of Washington. American influence in Pakistan consolidated during rule of Ayub Khan and continued to strengthen further latter".

He denied having said that pressure group comprising Imran Khan, Lt. Gen. (Retd) Hamid Gul, Maulana Sattar Edhi, Hakim Mohammad Said and late Mohammad Salahuddin (journalist) was formed to remove present government.-PPI