ISLAMABAD, Jan 14: The Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal (MMA) on Friday held protest demonstrations in different cities as part of its anti-uniform campaign and demanded that President Pervez Musharraf should step down both as president and army chief.

In this connection, a demonstration was held in the Karachi Company area of Islamabad. Speaking on the occasion, MMA's deputy parliamentary leader Hafiz Hussain Ahmed said that by violating the constitutional provisions and keeping two offices with him Gen Musharraf had become a controversial man and now he must quit both the offices.

The MMA leader accused the president of having failed to steer the country out of political and economic crises and asked him to quit both the offices to let the assemblies elect a new president who could appoint a new army chief.

He said the MMA would continue its struggle against the violators of the Constitution and those working against the integrity of the country. The MMA leader criticized the government over its handling of the Balochistan situation and called for a political solution to the problems.

Referring to the deletion of religion column in new passports, Hafiz Hussain Ahmed said: "We will reveal relationship of high-ups with Ahmedis after the success of our struggle." MMA's MNA from Islamabad Mian Mohammad Aslam and other leaders also spoke on the occasion and criticized the government for price hike and high rate of unemployment.

KARACHI: Speaking at a protest rally here, naib amir of Jamaat-i-Islami, Senator Prof Ghafoor Ahmad, alleged that the government's policies were pushing the country towards secularism which, he claimed, was against the basis of Pakistan's creation.

He accused the government of following the US policies and claimed that it had even given up Pakistan's stand on UN resolutions on Kashmir for the sake of friendship with India.

Other speakers also castigated the regime for the deteriorating law and order situation and slammed the government for failing to apprehend the culprits involved in the case of excesses against a lady doctor in Sui.

QUETTA: Speaking at a rally at Manan Chowk after Friday prayers, the MMA leaders said that the army operation in Balochistan and the construction of Kalabagh Dam were sensitive issues and warned that any unilateral decision in this regard would endanger the country's integrity.

Speakers stressed that both the ARD and the MMA should launch a joint struggle against military dictatorship to restore the constitutional rule and to protect the democratic rights of the people.

On the occasion, a procession was taken out from Jamia Masjid that culminated at the main intersection of the city. MNAs Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Haidari and Maulana Noor Mohammad and other leaders also spoke on the occasion.

JUI's secretary-general Maulana Haidari said that instead of launching an operation in Balochistan, the government should first determine whether external factors or domestic grievances were behind the incidents of bomb blasts and rocket firing in order to deal with the problem accordingly.

He said if the government launched army action in Dera Bugti, Kalat, Khuzdar or Loralai to suppress forces which were against the exploitation of provincial resources the situation would deteriorate further and could endanger the unity of the federation.

PESHAWAR: Local leaders of the MMA led a procession here on Friday to protest against President Musharraf's decision to retain two offices at one time. The procession started from Maddani Mosque and terminated at the Qissa Khwani Bazaar.

Speaking on the occasion, Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly, Maulana Fazlur Rahman, appreciated the ARD decision of joining the MMA's anti-government drive. He said the MMA expected that the PPP would not help President Musharraf at this juncture.