RAWALPINDI, 20 December 2004 — The six-party opposition religious alliance, Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA), yesterday vowed to observe New Year’s Day as a “black day” across the country if President Pervez Musharraf did not quit as army chief by Dec. 31.
The alliance may also call for a sit-in protest in Islamabad, MMA chief Qazi Hussain Ahmad told thousands of supporters in the garrison city near the capital Islamabad.
The rally was held amid a downpour after Musharraf categorically declared he would remain the army chief despite his pledge to abdicate the military post by the end of the year.
“If Musharraf does not abide by his pledge to doff his military uniform by Dec. 31, we will observe a countrywide black day of protest on Jan. 1,” Ahmad told the crowd, many of whom carried umbrellas.
“We will then consider giving a call to the people to march up to Islamabad for a sit-in protest,” he said.
It was the fourth rally staged by the MMA in major Pakistani cities over the past one month to muster support against Musharraf.
Cricket hero-turned politician Imran Khan and local leaders of Pakistan People’s Party of former prime ministers Benazir Bhutto and Pakistan Muslim League of ex-Premier Nawaz Sharif also attended the MMA rally, joining in criticism of Musharraf’s economic and foreign policies and blaming his government for rising prices.
The Liaquat Bagh venue was bedecked with banners reading “Friendship with America is treachery with the country”, “Inflation is Musharraf’s gift to the nation”, and “Solution of problems lies in Islamic system.”
Musharraf in an interview with domestic Sindhi language television channel KTN on Friday said: “I will remain in uniform.”
Musharraf said that his decision was in the interest of political stability and national solidarity.
Musharraf last year pledged to shed his military position at the end of December this year in return for the MMA’s support in ratifying a series of controversial constitutional changes in the Parliament, including powers to dissolve the elected assembly.
Musharraf, who seized power in a bloodless coup in 1999, has insisted that donning military uniform was crucial in his campaign against the Al-Qaeda network and in seeking a settlement of the thorny Kashmir dispute with India.
The Parliament earlier this month authorized Musharraf to continue his dual role for an indefinite period in the national interest but the Islamists called the decision a violation of the constitution.
The opposition secular Alliance for Restoration of Democracy has also rejected the parliamentary legislation and is holding its own anti-Musharraf protest rallies.
