LAHORE, Jan 19: MMA President Qazi Husain Ahmed has alleged that powers that be have decided to give one-third of the National Assembly seats to the PML-Q and the Muttahida Qaumi Movement, another one-third to the Pakistan People’s Party and the remaining one-third to other parties taking part in the elections.

He said while talking to this correspondent on Saturday that the “quota” for all political forces had already been earmarked after which the Feb 18 elections would not bring about any change on the political scene.

The situation that prevailed before the dissolution of the National Assembly would return after the farcical elections, as a result of which the parties that were not part of the former ruling coalition would not be able to play any role, said Qazi, who is also the amir of the Jamaat-i-Islami, a party which, like some other components of the All Parties Democratic Movement, has decided to boycott the election.

He urged all parties to stay away from the electoral process and focus their energies on dislodging President Musharraf. He said there was an urgent need for a popular movement against the general, who had overthrown a political government in 1999.

The MMA president said the parties that wanted to change the exploitative system and give the people their due rights should join hands without any delay and come out on the streets.

He said as a matter of fact the elections already stood manipulated as the parties’ share had been determined well before the actual polling. In such a situation those taking part in the exercise would be clear losers, he warned.

He alleged that since President Musharraf was implementing the US-UK agenda, both the countries wanted to retain him in power at any cost. These countries, he said, wanted Musharraf to rule without any problem, and it was for this reason that their diplomats were in contact with some political leaders and trying to forestall any post-poll movement.

However, he made it clear that a movement would start soon and people would not tolerate President Musharraf in power any more.

In his opinion the situation in the country would not change despite polls if President Musharraf remained in power or if the deposed judges were not restored.

Qazi believed that a popular movement would lead to the ouster of Gen Musharraf and reinstatement of the sacked judges.

He hoped that the All Parties Democratic Movement and the PML-N would join hands after the polls.