LAHORE, Jan 10: Jamaat-e-Islami ameer and MMA president Qazi Hussain Ahmad has harshly condemned the bomb blast in Lahore killing dozens of people and policemen, terming it a conspiracy to destabilize the country and creating anarchy.

In a statement from party headquarters Mansoorah on Thursday, Qazi asked all the political parties to realize the gravity of the situation and boycott the coming elections to join the mass movement to rid the nation of Pervez Musharraf and his destructive policies. Qazi asked the volunteers of Al-Khidmat Foundation, the social service body affiliated with the party, to immediately launch the relief work and provide blood and medicines for the wounded.

"For how long Gen Musharraf and agencies will continue to test the endurance of the nation and poor people. For how long innocent blood will continue to spill on the streets of this land of pure," asked Qazi Hussain Ahmad, adding that only because of Gen Musharraf's policies the blood of masses was being spilled like water. He demanded the political parties to launch the movement to remove Gen Musharraf at the earliest to prevent more bloodshed.

Qazi said the blast showed some forces wanted to sabotage the lawyers' movement for restoration of constitution and democracy, expressing satisfaction that lawyers were saved from the blast by virtue of their elections otherwise the casualties could have been more.

He also prayed for the departed souls and those wounded in the blast.

Meanwhile, in another statement, Jamaat-e-Islami secretary general Syed Munawar Hasan has expressed sorrow that former rulers and caretaker governments are shamelessly working upon their rigging plans despite that members of US Congress, Senate and Media have started a hue and cry over the pre poll rigging by Islamabad administration. He said parliament, government and elections enjoy importance in the democratic set up but if they are not free and fair then they would prove to be a source of chaos and anarchy in the country.

He asked those elements who claim to be well wishers of the country to get the pre-Nov.3 judiciary restored since it was the only way to protect the nation from present and future crises.


                                              ---------------------------------------------