RAWALPINDI, Feb 14: The All Parties Democratic Movement (APDM) Thursday warned the government of “a long war”, claiming that the parties boycotting the elections had triggered “a silent revolution against the establishment”.

The word of caution came at a public rally that was held in a downtown street in Rawalpindi after the alliance was denied permission to arrange the gathering at Liaquat Bagh, the scene of Benazir Bhutto’s assassination in a gun-and-bomb attack on December 27.

Though the government has banned display of arms at election meetings, a large number of men carrying Kalashnikov assault rifles were present at the venue, presumably to protect their party leaders.

The scene around the rally site was also indicative of extremist tendencies in the society, as religious elements openly put up for sale placards and posters inciting Jehad and anti-West sentiments.

Interestingly, all this took place in the presence of nationalist political figures like Mahmood Khan Achakzai, Dr Abdul Hai Baloch and others who are believed to abhor radicalism and violence.

One wonders whether the APDM is campaigning for poll boycott or inciting people for Jihad.

The APDM leadership demanded that President Pervez Musharraf should quit and abolish the National Security Council (NSC), besides holding free and fair elections under an independent judiciary.

The movement’s convener, Mr Achakzai, demanded an end to the involvement of the army and intelligence agencies in the political affairs.

“Our platform is the last ray of hope for the future of the country and its people as the parties participating in the polls are also strengthening the establishment by accepting fraudulent elections,” he added.

He said the parties were convinced that the election had been pre-rigged, but still went ahead with contesting the polls, adding that they would get nothing from the elections and, in fact, regret their decision.

Mr Achakzai said the APDM would continue with its struggle for the restoration of judiciary and constitution even after the elections.

Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) chief Qazi Hussain Ahmed said the National Security Council (NSC) was “a permanent martial law in the guise of national security”, and called for its abolition.

According to Mr Ahmed, the elections are being held to prolong the rule of President Pervez Musharraf.

He urged Chief of the Army Staff Gen Ashfaq Pervez Kayani to publicly announce that the country was no more an ally of the United States in the war against terror. He said the country was not fighting its own war but of other imperialist forces.

Mr Ahmed accused the government of targeting public gatherings to terrorise the people so that they hesitate to take part in a democratic process.

Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan said former prime minister Shaukat Aziz fled the country after taking huge loans, and claimed that the country had borrowed the heftiest loans in its history.

“Our rulers are quite, proudly claiming to have put an end to the Kashkol culture, and now the people are bedevilled by price hike, poor municipal services and food crisis,” Mr Khan maintained.

He also criticised Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari for not highlighting the cause of independent judiciary, and warned that he would launch a thorough movement against the party if it did not clarify its policy on the judiciary.