LAHORE, May 16: Former army chief Gen Mirza Aslam Beg says Ms Benazir Bhutto and Mian Nawaz Sharif should launch a popular movement against what he calls the ‘military regime’ in the country, instead of seeking ‘concessions’ for themselves.

He told Dawn on Tuesday that in case a movement was launched, the US would fully back it, as could be inferred from what President Bush had said during his visit to Islamabad in March.

“Movement, not mere statements” would change the situation, said Gen Beg, who had worked as COAS with both Ms Bhutto and Mr Sharif during their first terms as prime ministers.

In his opinion, both the former premiers should come back to Pakistan and face charges against them. Once the courts acquitted them of all charges, they should mobilise the masses against the rulers. He believed that a movement in the prevailing situation would get a massive response.

He said there was no law under which charges against both the ARD leaders could be dropped, nor should the two expect any leniency from Gen Musharraf.

Gen Beg, who is also the chairman of the Pakistan Awami Tehrik, said in the movement both the leaders should call for the formation of a caretaker government at least six months before the polls.

When he was reminded that a caretaker government was already provided in the constitution and that elections must be held in 60 days after the dissolution of the assemblies, Gen Beg said constitutional demands could not be made from an unconstitutional setup.

“The present government is a military government. It’s one man rule, therefore, we don’t have to go by the constitution.”

He believed that if the present government stayed any more, free and fair elections would not be possible and the same old faces would return to the assemblies through the so-called electoral process.

He said the opposition parties should declare their options in case no steps were taken for free and fair polls. In his opinion, the opposition legislators should resign their assembly seats and boycott the next elections in case the rulers did not take measures to hold transparent and impartial elections.

Replying to a question about the Charter of Democracy signed by the two former prime ministers, Gen Beg said the disbandment of the National Security Council or the revival of the Defence Committee of the Cabinet would not avert the imposition of another martial law.

He said in fact the NSC should be reconstituted and it should be similar to the one in India.

He said the charter lacked any clear policy for the future, in the absence of which no movement could be expected and the government would be under no pressure to go for fresh polls.

He said the charter was also silent on the most important question of provincial autonomy.

Also, he said, the two former prime ministers did not talk about the devolution plan, which brought so much “distortions” in the system of governance.