KARACHI, Nov 20: Chairman of the National Peoples Party and a former caretaker prime minister Ghulam Mustafa Jatoi said the upcoming general elections would not be free, fair and transparent unless necessary measures were taken immediately.Addressing a press conference at his residence here on Tuesday, Mr Jatoi recalled the events in Balochistan, Waziristan, Swat and other parts of the country, and said that attacks on armed forces and growing unrest had created a situation which was not conducive to free and fair polls.

He warned the government against resorting to foul play to achieve the desired results in the elections, and said the situation arising out of the political tension might get out of its control if rigged the polls.

“The only panacea left in the given situation is that all patriot forces in the country sat together by shunning their differences and work for the integrity and wellbeing of the country,” he suggested.

He said that if the government was sincere in holding free and fair elections, it must restore the constitution immediately and release all judges, political leaders, activists and journalists. He also called for the restoration of all private TV channels, including Geo and ARYOne.

Mr Jatoi stressed that every political party should be allowed level-playing field to ensure transparency in the election process. “PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif and his brother Shahbaz Sharif should also be allowed to return home and lead their election campaign,” he added.Condemning the police action against protesting journalists at the Karachi Press Club earlier in the day, Mr Jatoi said the government must accept their genuine demands and release all those arrested during the protest demonstration.

In reply to a questions, he said he had made two political mistakes in his life — boycott of 1985 elections and joining the PML-Q after dismemberment of the National Alliance following the 2002 general elections —, adding that he was yet to decide whether his party should join some alliance or contest the election on its own.