SUKKUR, April 19: Jamaat-i-Islami Naib Ameer Liaquat Baloch has urged the government to invoke article-6 of the Constitution to impeach President Musharraf for violating the Constitution through the extra constitutional amendments of November 3, 2007.

He said that the people would not accept 18th amendment or any constitutional package which would provide relief to President Musharraf, and advised the coalition not to adopt soft attitude to him. Speaking at meet the press programme at the press club here on Saturday, Mr Baloch said that the government was committed to implement the Murree declaration within 30 days of the formation of the federal cabinet.

He said that people were concerned over speculations about the government’s reconciliatory attitude to the president.

He said that it was right time for the prime minister to issue an order to appoint a law officer to prepare an impeachment case against President Musharraf under article-6 of the Constitution so that his illegal actions to render the Constitution ineffective on November 3, 2007, were accounted for.

He said that the US was trying to exert pressure over their defence and foreign policies and for this purpose it was offering financial aid to the government. On the other hand, he alleged, the US was openly flouting their sovereignty as its planes were flying in their territory and targeting people in Wana and Waziristan areas.

He criticized the role of the army in previous years and called for an end to military operations in Wana and Balochistan to help solve the problems through dialogue.

He said that the families of hundreds of missing persons were going through a state of hell and the government should provide them relief by ensuring recovery of their dear and near ones.

Similarly, he called for the release of political prisoners, including former Balochistan chief minister Akhter Mengal, and withdrawal of cases against political workers without any discrimination.

Mr Baloch alleged that the ministers had no interest in resolving problems of people like shortage of electricity and water and soaring price of flour.

He said that law and order situation in Sindh was deteriorating as feudal lords were promoting tribal wars on the pattern of Afghan warlords.

He said that common man was facing acute economic problems and lawlessness and hollow slogans could not fill their stomach.

Coming hard on the Muttahida Qaumi Movement, he demanded neutral enquiries into the tragic events of May 12 and April 9 in order to award exemplary punishment to the perpetrators of these crimes.