November 26, 2007	Monday	Ziqa’ad 15, 1428

LAHORE, Nov 25: Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal President Qazi Husain Ahmad has directed all its candidates for national and provincial assemblies seats to file their nomination papers.

In a statement on Sunday, the Qazi said the MMA candidates must file their nomination papers and any decision to take part in the elections would be taken in consensus with all opposition parties.

BALOCH: Jamaat-i-Islami naib amir Liaquat Baloch has said the return of Mian Nawaz Sharif after Benazir Bhutto is a clear proof of failure of Gen Pervez Musharraf’s policies.

Talking to different delegations at Mansoora on Sunday, he said the government would not be able to hold elections under its dictatorial rule after the return of Nawaz Sharif. He said Gen Musharraf was responsible for the situation in which the armed forces were becoming a target of hatred.

He said the opposition political parties should adopt a clear stand about participation in or boycott of general elections because the Election Commission had already become partisan during the presidential election. He said the apex court had ceased to exist after the proclamation of emergency and unlawful dismissal of judges of superior courts by Gen Pervez Musharraf.

JUI: Jamiat-i-Ulema-i-Pakistan Secretary-General Qari Zawwar Bahadur has said Mian Nawaz Sharif’s return would strengthen the movement against dictatorship and restoration of democracy.

Commenting on the return of the former prime minister after seven years of exile, he said the warm welcome accorded to Mian Nawaz Sharif and his brother Shahbaz Sharif had proved that the people were fed up with the dictatorial policies of the government and wanted restoration of democracy.

He said fair elections could not be held under the present circumstances when emergency had been proclaimed in the country after the suspension of constitution and judges of superior courts had been removed from service. A movement for restoration of democracy was the only option left for the opposition political parties, he said.