ISLAMABAD, Oct 25: President Pervez Musharraf said on Thursday that former prime minister Nawaz Sharif would not return before the general elections, rejecting reports about his expected homecoming soon.

He said the ruling Pakistan Muslim League and its allies were in a position to win the elections and the next prime minister would be from the PML.

Addressing about 170 legislators of the party, including federal ministers, at a dinner at the Prime Minister’s House, the president said: “You have been supporting me for the last five years and you will not be disappointed by me in the days to come.

“I am with you and it is my heartiest desire that you win elections and form the government.”

Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz, PML president Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, secretary-general Mushahid Hussain Sayed and Sindh and Balochistan chief ministers were present, but Punjab Chief Minister Chaudhry Parvaiz Elahi was not there.

Qari Gul Rahman, an MMA dissident, and Shahabuddin Khan of the Awami National Party, who voted for Gen Musharraf in the presidential election, attended the dinner and were greeted by the participants.

The president denied reports that the local bodies would be dissolved before the polls on the demand of certain parties.

He said the reconciliation process had been initiated to end the tug of war between political parties and it was proceeding well, Minister of State for Information Senator Tariq Azeem told Dawn.

Gen Musharraf said that foreign experts would not be involved in the investigation of the October 18 blasts in Karachi. “Our own experts are competent enough to undertake this task and they have done it in the past.”

In reply to a question regarding Ms Bhutto’s statement about Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan, he said: “No-one will be allowed access to the nuclear scientist and anyone desirous of questioning him will have to do so through Pakistani officials.”

He also denied that foreign troops would be allowed to intrude into Pakistan’s tribal areas to attack militants and extremists and terrorists.

Speaking on the occasion, Prime Minister Aziz congratulated the president on winning the election and said that even if opposition parties had participated in the process, Gen Musharraf would have polled the same 57 per cent votes of the electoral college.

Earlier, the president had an informal meeting with some senior members of the PML, including Balochistan Chief Minister Jam Mohammad Yousuf and Sindh Chief Minister Arbab Ghulam Rahim Khan, to brief them on measures he was taking for reconciliation with the PPP and other parties.

He discussed with them the electoral strategy, petitions pending in the Supreme Court, security situation and the formation of an interim set-up, sources said.