"It is the discretion of the President," he told members of the Overseas Correspondents Association Bangladesh (OCAB) at a press briefing at Jamaat central office, responding to a question about army intervention in case of fresh political agitation.

Nizami wouldn't comment on Awami League-led 14-party combine's November-3 ultimatum for the caretaker government to implement their 11-point demand for ensuring free and fair elections.

"We think the President would meet reasonable demands, but the elections cannot be pushed towards uncertainty by raising illogical demands," he told a correspondent.

He blamed the Awami League and its allies for targeting and killing as many as 13 Jamaat-Shibir members during the siege programme in Dhaka on October 28.

He disagreed with the notion of mass uprising staged October 27-29 against the alliance rule and said: " It was a demonstration of AL terrors." He said people would give the reply by ballot in the coming polls.

Asked if Jamaat felt insecure and sought special protection from the President, Jamaat Secretary General Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mujahid said: "We are not scared about our security, but party chief and important persons should be given protection under the rule."

Mohammad Qamaruzzaman, Kader Mollah and ATM Azharul Islam were present.