LAHORE, Dec 26: The two-party system evolved during the past 14 years faces a threat at the hands of the military authorities which, eventually, want to make Pakistan a one-party state, a founder leader of the PML-Q says.

Abida Husain, who resigned as party’s central information secretary after losing the election, told newsmen on Thursday that with the backing of the army, Gen Musharraf wanted to introduce the presidential system in which political leaders would be relegated to back benches.

By the time next elections were held, Gen Musharraf would be leading the PML-Q and the PML-N, and the PPP would be sitting on opposition benches, she predicted.

The system to be ultimately introduced would be identical to the one being practised in Egypt. The army-backed president would be all powerful and the rest of the functionaries, hailing from various political parties, would be in subordinate positions, she said.

She believed that in the times to come, the Kashmir dispute and other relevant issues would be settled in a manner that the army would not have to go for any war. It would wield its authority through the president and run the country.

She said the image of political leaders and parties was being tarnished in a systematic manner. Horse trading was going on at an unprecedented scale and the government owed its existence to the turncoats. Suspension of the 14th constitutional amendment to enable the legislators to change loyalties negated the very spirit of the parliamentary system.

She said after losing the elections, she felt herself “homeless, displaced”. However, she said, she would play her political role at an appropriate time.

She said she might join hands with nationalist forces in other provinces to present the Punjab’s point of view. She said there was a need to promote nationalism.