August 23, 2002	Friday	Jamadi-us-Saani 13,1423

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ISLAMABAD, Aug 22: Hamid Nasir Chattha, president Pakistan Muslim League (Junejo), in his meeting with president Gen Pervez Musharraf on Thursday demanded even playing field to all political parties contesting the Oct 10 general elections.

Mr Chattha held an hour-long meeting with president on the latter’s invitation to discuss the prevailing political situation with reference to the election campaign.

The president, accepting Mr Chattha’s demand as right reassured that an even playing field will be provided to every contestant of the elections and he will take care that no administrative interference is made in the electoral process.

He said that the election commission is an independent body working without interference and this independence will be ensured further.

According to Tariq Khan, the political secretary of Chattha, the PML leader’s only objective is to meet the president was to stress on him that there should be no discrimination against the contesting political parties and every one of them should be provided equal opportunities of contesting.

He also said that no one should be barred from taking part in the process if he was eligible to do so under the law.

Mr Chattha, it may be mentioned has been championing the reunification of all the factions (about seven) of PML to face the opponents as one entity. However, his differences with Sharif’s and PML(Q) leadership and Pir Pagaro’s unpredictable attitude has hindered these efforts from bearing fruit.