RAWALPINDI, Aug 14: Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif called on Tuesday for embattled President General Pervez Musharraf to step down as the nation celebrated its 60th anniversary.

Mr Sharif, addressing by telephone from Dubai a rally organised by the All Pakistan Democratic Movement at Liaquat Bagh here, called on voters to decide “once and for all” to rid themselves of the military ruler and embrace the rule of law and democracy.

“Pakistan cannot be governed with the power of gun. We have to launch the struggle from today to save Pakistan and establish the rule of law,” Mr Sharif said.

The former prime minister won thunderous applause from thousands of supporters in his first address to supporters in Pakistan since he was exiled in 2000 after his overthrow by Gen Musharraf in a bloodless coup in October 1999.

The crowd chanted “Go Musharraf, go” and “Nawaz Sharif is our prime minister”.

“It is insult to the country’s 160 million people that we are celebrating Pakistan’s 60th Independence Day under a military dictator.” He asked the crowd: “Who laid the wrong foundations for the country’s foreign policy, who implicated us in war and who dismembered Pakistan?” The crowd responded in unison ‘military generals’.

“I want to make it clear that a gun and a uniform cannot guarantee the country’s integrity. Let us save democracy and decide once and for all that the job of the armed forces is to defend the country’s frontiers and not to form or run the government.”

Other APDM leaders, including MMA president Qazi Hussain Ahmad, JUI (F) Amir Maulana Fazlur Rehman, ANP president Asfandyar Wali Khan , Tahrik-i-Insaaf chief Imran Khan, PML (N) leader Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, Hanif Abbasi, Liaquat Baloch, Senator professor Ibrahim Piracha, Mian Muhammad Aslam, Mir Hasil Bezenjo, Rasool Buksh Palijo, Dr Qadir Magsi, Mehmood Khan Achakzai and Raja Zafar-ul-Haq, in their speeches also blamed military interventions for the current political chaos in the country. They denounced Gen Musharraf’ plan to seek re-election from the sitting assemblies.

Qazi Hussain said that intervention by military generals had caused political turmoil in the country. “A gulf has been developed between army and the masses in the name of enlightened moderation,” he said.

“It is impossible to have free, air and transparent elections under the shadows of President Musharraf. We are not going to accept any general or martial law in future,” he stated.

Maulana Fazl lamented the lack of unity despite the lapse of 60 years and said “we have yet to find our road to future”.—Agencies