ISLAMABAD, May 25: Opposition leaders at a multi-party conference convened by the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal (MMA) on Friday said they would launch a civil disobedience movement if President Pervez Musharraf took any extra-constitutional action to thwart the movement for the independence of the judiciary.

The conference called upon the Chief Justice of the Sindh High Court to set up a judicial commission for fixing responsibility for the May 12 killings in Karachi. Other demands included the sacking of the governor and the CM’s adviser on home affairs, and the extradition of MQM chief Altaf Hussain from Britain.

More than 20 speakers expressed their views on the political polarisation, insecurity, the law and order situation and the violation of the Constitution.

They vowed to resist attempts for the re-election of Gen Musharraf with `full force and unity’.

The conference supported the return of Mian Nawaz Sharif and Benazir Bhutto.

The meeting turned into a multi-party conference as it was attended by most of the senior leaders of MMA, PML (Nawaz) PTI, ANP, PONAM, office-bearers of the Supreme Court Bar, representatives of civil society, retired bureaucrats and generals.

The People’s Party was conspicuous by its absence. The speakers urged its leadership to shun the `politics of deals’ and `looking towards Washington for power’.

A declaration called upon President Musharraf to immediately step down from both his offices and set up an interim government headed by the Senate chairman. It also stressed the need for an independent election commission, restoration of the 1973 constitution to the pre-Oct 12, 1999, position and the holding of free and fair elections.

The conference decided to set up a `Qaumi Rabita Committee’ to coordinate activities of the opposition parties.

The body comprises MPC convener Qazi Hussain Ahmed, PML (Nawaz) chairman Raja Zafarul Haq, Leader of the Opposition Maulana Fazlur Rahman, PTI chief Imran Khan, ANP chief Asfandyar Wali Khan, and PONAM leader Mehmood Khan Achakzai.

The declaration paid tributes to Chief Justice Mr Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry for taking a principled stand.

The meeting held President Musharraf and MQM chief Altaf Hussain responsible for the May 12 situation in Karachi which stopped the Chief Justice from addressing a function at the Sindh High Court.

The MPC also condemned the attack on Aaj television’s offices, banning of Royal television, and abduction of Sana news agency’s Shakil Turabi.

The opposition parties expressed determination to continue the struggle for an independent judiciary, federal parliamentary system, people’s fundamental rights and a stable democratic polity.

Those who attended the meeting included Jamaat chief Qazi Hussain Ahmed, JUI chief Maulana Fazlur Rahman, PML-N chief Raja Zafarul Haq, Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, Tehmina Daultana, Maulana Anas Noorani and Tehrik-i-Insaf head Imran Khan.

Imran Khan informed participants that he would leave in a fortnight for London to file a petition for the extradition of Altaf Hussain and cancellation of his British nationality.

The lawyers community was represented by Munir Malik, the president of the Supreme Court Bar, and Ali Ahmed Kurd, vice-president of the Pakistan Bar Council.