DERA GHAZI KHAN, May 12: The government should hold free and transparent general elections under an independent election commission, demands PML-N Punjab president Zulfiqar Ali Khan Khosa.

He said the incumbent election commissioner had taken oath under the Provisional Constitutional Order and was, therefore, not acceptable to the opposition. Mr Khosa spoke at a press conference at his residence on Friday after returning from organisational tour of 31 districts.

He said the membership campaign at the union council-level had commenced and the whole process of re-organisation would be completed by June. He said the elections should be held under the interim government, comprising representatives of all opposition parties, after completion of the assembly tenure. The assemblies, he stressed, should be allowed to complete their tenure without any interruption.

Mr Khosa disputed the claims of government regarding spending of billions of rupees on development projects. He said he had not seen any substantial development in the province during his tour of 31 districts.

He said the PML-N and other opposition parties would not take part in the general elections if these were held by Gen Musharraf.

Replying to a question, he said any decision on alliance with the MMA depended upon the situation in the coming days.

Commenting on the Balochistan issue, Mr Khosa condemned the government and said “a political solution is better than a military solution.”