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K J M Varma in Islamabad
In an attempt to blunt opposition to his plans to get elected through a referendum, Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf has invited leaders of religious parties for talks this weekend, a report said on Thursday.
Musharraf, expected to formally announce details of the referendum in his scheduled address to the nation on Friday, has invited leaders of Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal, a coalition of six religious parties, for a meeting on Saturday to discuss his political plans, Pakistani news agency SANA said.
The invitation came as the leaders of the alliance filed a petition in the Supreme Court questioning the legality of Musharraf's presidency and the validity of his referendum. Leaders of the alliance Maulana Shah Ahmed Noorani, Qazi Hussain Ahmed, Maulana Fazl-ur-Rehman, Maulana Samiul Haq, Sajid Mir and Allma Sajid Naqvi are likely to meet Musharraf, the report said.
Most of the alliance leaders, who were arrested at the height of their pro-Taliban agitation opposing American military intervention in Afghanistan late last year, were released recently.
Leaders of mainstream political parties, who are also opposed to the referendum, believe the hue and cry being raised by the religious parties against Musharraf's plans is mere posturing to bargain concessions from the government.
Alliance leader and chief of Jamaat-e-Islami, Qazi Hussain Ahmed, said the proposed referendum would permanently involve the army in politics and damage its reputation.
"Gen Musharraf wants to remain the army chief, which is tantamount to making a mockery of the army as an institution. He wants to politicise the army," he said.
"Every military man takes the oath before joining the army that he will not involve in politics and will protect the constitution. I hope that the people of Pakistan and all institutions will block Gen Musharraf's unlawful actions," the report quoted him as saying.
Ahmed said major political parties and regional groups have also rejected the referendum.
"All the leading newspapers in their editorial notes have also opposed the referendum. The country's lawyer community has also criticised Musharraf's referendum," he said.
Related Report: Pak govt plans to make voting mandatory for referendum
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