Protesting the promulgation of the Women's Protection Bill in Pakistan, religious leaders have accused President Pervez Musharraf of "anti-Islamic" policies.
At a convention at the headquarters of the Jamaat-e-Islami in Karachi on Tuesday, they also accused the government of "making changes in the education curriculum and launching a campaign against religious seminaries."
Held under the aegis of the Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA), Qazi Hussain Ahmed, the head of the JI and MMA, also insisted that free and fair general elections were not possible until Musharraf remained in power.
"Europe and the US would support Musharraf in the coming polls as he was towing their agenda.
The nation must oust Musharraf-led government before the coming general elections otherwise it would once again manage to get an engineered majority," Hussain said.
Speakers also called for a movement against the women's protection bill and to get rid of western influence in the country.