June 14, 2006	Wednesday	Jumadi-ul-Awwal 17, 1427

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ISLAMABAD, June 13: The Central Working Committee (CWC) of the PML-N here on Tuesday resolved to speed up its struggle for the establishment of a neutral caretaker government in the country to conduct credible elections through an independent and effective Election Commission in collaboration with other political parties and civil society.

The party will announce the date of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif’s return to Pakistan before the elections so that the exiled leader could lead the party in the next year’s general elections.

More than 60 PML-N leaders from across the country participated in the meeting presided over by the party’s chairman, Raja Zafarul Haq.

The meeting observed that Pakistan could not afford another round of controversial elections. It said Gen Musharraf’s track record of 2002 presidential referendum, local bodies elections of 2001 and 2005, general elections 2002 and recent politicking in President House to promote a king’s party clearly showed that in his presence the chances of fair and free elections were impossible.

The CWC observed that the presence of Nawaz Sharif and other exiled leaders was necessary in Pakistan to ensure that the next elections were credible.

It expressed grave concerns over the law and order situation in Balochistan and tribal areas and the government’s mishandling of the situation. “Attempt to solve political problems through guns would further deteriorate the situation. Only a democratic government could resolve such crisis,” it observed.

It also showed great resentment over the price-hike and the alleged fudging of budget figures by the government. The meeting observed that most of the country’s resources have been squandered for the rising consumption of rich and powerful by promoting “Casino Economy Syndrome” through real estate and stock market speculation. It observed that the government was wasting national resources on the GHQ project in Islamabad, which was actually a housing scheme for the military elites and would require over $4 billion, an amount that could build a motorway between Islamabad and Karachi.

The CWC welcomed the Charter of Democracy and appreciated its strong support by media and the masses.