The Markazia Majlis-e-Iqbal held a largely attended function here on Sunday in connection with birthday celebrations of poet philosopher Allama Mohammad Iqbal who conceived the idea of a separate homeland for the Muslims of the subcontinent and is revered by the nation next only to its founder Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah.
The function was addressed by Pakistan Muslim League (N) leader and former Chief Minister Sindh Syed Ghaus Ali Shah, President Supreme Court Bar Association Ali Ahmad Kurd, Allama Iqbal's son former Justice Dr Javed Iqbal, President Markazia Majlis-e-Iqbal Sardar Mohammad Hussain Dogar, PPP leader Farzana Raja.
Addressing the function after nine years in Lahore, Sayed Ghaus Ali Shah demanded that the government should implement the consensus resolution of the Parliament and revise its methodology of combating terrorism through an independent foreign policy.
He said the parliament had demanded of the government to safeguard the country's sovereignty and territorial integrity and effectively deal with the US incursions and invasions of the homeland.
Shah said the government had failed to act upon the will of the sovereign parliament and check the US incursions which is daily attacking Pakistani territory and citizens unabatedly.
He argued that General Pervez Musharraf (Retd) pursued policies aimed at perpetuating his own power at the cost of national interest. "Musharraf abrogated the constitution, dismissed government of an elected Prime Minister and imposed his personal dictatorship on the country" he added.
Shah said Musharraf should be tried on the charges of high treason and punished for his crimes against the nation. "Pakistan needs a standing army but that army, instead of ruling the country, should protect borders of the country" he emphasised.
He recalled that in England an army general had illegally seized the powers, but after his death, his remains were taken out of the grave and publicly hanged. "The same treatment / punishment be given to the former military dictators who usurped human, civil and political rights of the people and used the might of the army to perpetuate their one man rule" he demanded.
The newly elected President Supreme Court Bar Association and prominent activist of the lawyers movement Ali Ahmad Kurd said the legal fraternity has a great respect for the elected assemblies as democratic institutions.