October 15, 2002	Tuesday	Sha'aban 8, 1423

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ISLAMABAD, Oct 14: Asif Ali Zardari, the jailed PPP leader, on Monday alleged that election results were engineered, which, he said, was evident from the fact that the results from Balochistan came first, while those of the federal capital were announced very late.

“The sweeping majority was restricted in the elections,” he claimed, while talking to a group of reporters at the Rawalpindi Accountability Court. He said the PPP would continue to play its role for the betterment of the people as well as for safeguarding the national interest.

Mr Zardari said the foreign observers, including those from European Union, had also observed that elections were rigged.

He, however, expressed his confidence that political parties would act intelligently and form a national government with the consensus of all parties.

“Ideally, it will be better if the establishment of such a government takes place from the platform of the Alliance for the Restoration of Democracy,” he added.

The situation after the elections, the PPP leader said, had become more complex and demanded that the political parties should run the affairs of the state in complete harmony and cooperation with one another.

The military establishment, in the national interest, should help in resolving the situation, he said, adding that any deadlock would be against the interest of the nation and the country.

Commenting on the strong position of Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal after general elections, he expressed the hope that the alliance would play a positive role for the cause of the country.

Mr Zardari said anything could happen in the current uncertain political situation and even martial law could be imposed if the parties failed to come up to the people’s expectations in forming the government and running country’s affairs.

Answering a question, he said Amin Fahim, the chairman of the People’s Party Parliamentarians, enjoyed complete confidence of Benazir Bhutto and was competent enough to form an alliance with any party he considered appropriate.