FAISALABAD, Aug 6: Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan has said that the meeting of All Parties Democratic Movement (APDM) on Independence Day (Aug 14) will decide the future direction of opposition parties.

Addressing a press conference here on Monday, the cricketer-turned-politician said it was crystal clear that free and fair elections were impossible if Musharraf retained his uniform. He demanded the president to doff his uniform prior to general elections.

He said Gen Musharraf often spoke of extremism in the country, however, people had been trying to get rid of poverty and price hike since long.

He said Muslims in Iraq had been segregated into Shias and Sunnis whereas Pakistani people divided into liberals and extremists.

“People in favour of US policies are considered moderates and liberals while the remaining are supposed to be extremists,” he said.

Speaking of tribal areas, Imran said, the use of guns had created a sense of deprivation among the people which prompted them to join Taliban. “Dialogue is the sole solution to bring peace and tranquility in tribal areas and any other decision will not bear fruit.”

Earlier addressing the district bar members, he lauded the efforts of the legal fraternity for the independence of judiciary and freedom of masses.