August 16, 2007	Thursday	Sha’aban 2, 1428

ISLAMABAD, Aug 15: Representatives of some opposition parties held a meeting with the visiting US Assistant Secretary of State Richard Boucher here on Wednesday.

Those who met Mr Boucher included PPP Senator Enver Baig, PML-N information secretary Ahsan Iqbal and MMA MNA Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Haidri.

None of the representatives of the PPP, PML-N and MMA wanted to be quoted about their meeting with the US official. However, one of them, on the condition of anonymity, informed this correspondent that they had made it clear to Mr Boucher that free and fair elections were not possible if Gen Pervez Musharraf remained in power and west should now chose between democracy and dictatorship in Pakistan.

The meeting lasted for about 75 minutes.

Another representative said that they had told Mr Boucher that the people of Pakistan would not compromise on the supremacy of the Constitution and a controversial election could be a disaster for the country.

He said the opposition leaders called for a level-playing field for all political parties during the elections. They were of the view that Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif should be allowed to return to the country and take part in the polls. The issues of controversial voters’ list and possible caretaker set-up also came under discussion.—Staff Reporter