KARACHI, Oct 13: Opposition leader in the Sindh Assembly Nisar Khuhro has said that Gen Musharraf's insistence on retaining his military post along with the president's office is not only violative of the Constitution but also aimed at permanently keeping assemblies under threat.

Addressing a press conference here on Wednesday on his return from the United States, he described the five-years of Gen Musharraf's rule as 'dark period', and accused him of promoting terrorist elements in the country contrary to his claim of combating terrorism.

He stressed that the countries willing to maintain long-lasting relations with Pakistan, should build their relationship with the country's people through their elected representatives and not through other individuals.

Mr Khuhro observed that Gen Musharraf was acting contrary to the guiding principles and vision of the Quaid-i-Azam. Referring to the bill asking Gen Musharraf to retain the post of the COAS simultaneously with that of president, Mr Khuhro said that an Act enacted by a parliament could not be superseded by a bill.

He pointed out that Gen Musharraf's desperation in this regard reflected his weakness and showed that he could not rule without keeping the armed forces under his command. "By inference, it means that stability cannot be achieved without the military's concurrence," he said.

Mr Khuhro termed the passage of the resolution on the president's uniform "a diabolical conspiracy against the Constitution, democracy and parliamentary dispensation in the country."

Presentation of the resolution by the Muttahida Qaumi Movement, he said, was indicative of the Establishment's real motives. He declared that rule by the men in uniform was the first form of dictatorship.

The opposition leader apprehended that the whole country would face the fallout of the move aimed at perpetuating the dictatorial and fascist rule and denying the people of their fundamental rights.

He said that after Gen Musharraf's resorting to shifting his stand on uniform issue, one could not trust him. "How do you expect that people of Sindh would believe that he will protect their rights on water and NFC issue when he has gone back on his words on uniform?" asked Mr KHuhro. It appeared that existence of the parliament was contingent with the retention of military post by Gen Musharraf.

He regretted that people's apathy had increased because the Supreme Court had not shown its desired indulgence on vital issues. Mr Khuhro pointed out that on the one hand, Gen Musharraf claimed to be in the frontline of international war on terror but, on the other, he was responsible for allowing a "terrorist to file nomination papers and get elected to the National Assembly." He made it clear that no political party in Pakistan favoured terrorism.

Mr Khuhro slammed the government for a 10 per cent increase in unemployment while about 55 per cent people already living below poverty level, increase in suicide rate, rising cost of utilities and living, and deteriorating law and order situation where common man felt insecure. He also accused the government of telling lies to people.

He deplored the killing of Mufti Jameel and the government's failure in providing necessary protection to prominent figures, saying that it was a matter of shame for the government that the bereaved and other mourners of Mufti Jameel had refused to receive its representatives for condolences.

He also rejected the government's claims about cameras and other gadgets having been installed for security purpose, asking, "why could not the killers of Mufti Jameel, Abdullah Murad, Mufti Shamzai, Munawar Suhrawardy and Munawwar Bangash be arrested yet?"

With regard to a question about the ARD's cooperation with the MMA, he said the matter was being looked into. The ARD had already set up a committee in this regard, he added.