KARACHI, April 13: Participants of a big rally of the Alliance for Restoration of Democracy on Friday declared that in the absence of Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif they would not accept any election in the country and their struggle will continue till the removal of General Musharraf.

The ARD called the rally to express solidarity with the legal fraternity protesting against the suspension of Chief Justice of Pakistan Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhary on Friday, the day of hearing of presidential reference against him in Islamabad.

Even though workers of all parties in the ARD participated in the rally it was the show of Pakistan People’s Party whose activists including women and children participated in large numbers and made it a success.

A number of rallies were taken out from different localities to reach the Fresco Chowk which was the starting point of the main rally. Ms Naheed Khan led a big rally from Bilawal House towards Fresco Chowk, where participants of the rally burnt the effigy of General Musharraf.

Shouting slogan of “Go Musharraf Go” and hoisting their respective party flags, the participants started moving towards the Supreme Court Registry near Shaheen Complex in cars, motorcycles, donkey carts, trucks and minibuses. However, the rally could not reach the SC Registry due to traffic mess and ARD leaders addressed the gathering at the Arts Council roundabout.

Leader of the Opposition in the Senate Mian Raza Rabbani said people across the country were protesting against the regime and they had only one demand that Gen Musharraf should quit.

Participants of the rally unanimously endorsed Mr Rabbani when he declared that no election would be acceptable without Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif. “Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif have no need to get permission to return from the military or any American agent. They will return with the power of the people of this country,” Mr Rabbani said.

Amid loud slogans, he vowed to continue the struggle till the removal of General Musharraf. He said independent judiciary was the only guarantee of the protection of rights of people and holding of free, fair and transparent election in the country. He demanded immediate resignation of the government and setting up of a neutral caretaker government of national consensus to hold transparent polls in the country.

ARD Sindh President Zain Ansari said people did not want ‘uniform democracy’ and want independent Election Commission to hold fair polls. He demanded the government to free judiciary, restore democracy and the Constitution in its real form.

PPP Sindh President Qaim Ali Shah said 2007 was the year of election and the year of the return of Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif. He demanded the government to reinstate immediately the CJP.

Acting president of PML-N Salim Zia said the protest of the people and the ARD was not in the favour of any individual but it was for the rule of law and supremacy of parliament.Nisar Khuhro, Sardar Rahim, Basharat Mirza and other leaders said people would not stop protesting even if General Musharraf reinstated CJP Iftikhar Chaudhry.

Later, the participants of the rally dispersed peacefully. Strict security arrangements were taken to cope with any untoward incident.