September 27, 2002	Friday	Rajab 19, 1423

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ISLAMABAD, Sept 26: Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaf (PTI) on Thursday expressed lack of confidence in the Election Commission of Pakistan and warned the government not to push political parties against the wall.

“In my view, these elections are not going to be fair, free or impartial. I would go a step further and say these are going to be phase-II of referendum,” PTI secretary-general Miraj Mohammad Khan said at a press conference.

The party has written several letters to the election commission and provided conclusive evidence against some members of pro-government parties, but it remained totally unmoved, he said.

The present regime has made a number of compromises with the United States, therefore it will not take risk of allowing any genuine political party to get into power, Mr Khan claimed.

He warned rigged and fake elections would push the country into a multi-dimensional crises, posing serious threats to its integrity and solidarity.

Through the constitution of National Security Council, the military’s role in the politics and governance will be formalized, making the future parliament subservient to the council’s decisions, he maintained.

The government, he claimed, had failed in maintaining law and order, and providing security of life and property to the minorities.

On a question about his party’s initiative to launch a joint struggle for fair, free and impartial elections with People’s Part Parliamentarians, Pakistan Muslim League-N and other independent parties, Mr Khan said, all the parties wanted to contest the elections and not to leave the field open for pro- government parties.

However, he said, the government should not resort to pressure tactics, as the political parties would never close their options.