LAHORE, Nov 26: Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif said on Monday that the All Parties Democratic Movement did not want to boycott elections, but “if you (the government) push someone against the wall ... what options he is left with”?
Addressing a press conference at his Model Town home on Monday, he alleged that the partial Election Commission was part of the problem. “There are no chances of free, fair and impartial elections under the incumbent election commissioner and the emergency rule and it will serve no purpose taking part in them under the present circumstances.
“We demand reinstatement of all judges, lifting of curbs on media, lifting of emergency before elections,” he said.
The caretaker set-up, he added, was an extension of the previous political dispensation being run by the establishment.
About the acceptability of Gen Pervez Musharraf as civilian president, he said Gen Musharraf would have to reinstate deposed Supreme Court judges and obtain their approval (for his dual offices).
Mr Sharif, who filed his nomination papers for NA-120, said that under the present circumstances he would not be a candidate for the office of prime minister and would not work with a military dictator.
“Military dictators have always damaged the country. It was a military dictator who dismembered the country in 1971 and now another dictator is destroying the social fabric of the country.”
Ruling out any alliance with the PML (Q), he said: “The question does not arise for such an alliance. Yes, the PML (N) may consider the case of those who, even being part of the ruling party, have kept an independent composure and have not damaged the PML (N) during the last eight years. Even their cases will have no blanket approval, and will be considered separately.”
When asked about the reported role of Pir Pagara in uniting different factions of the Pakistan Muslim League, Mr Sharif said he was a “respectable politician and we have very good relations with him”.
About an electoral alliance with the PPP, he said there would be no election alliance with the Pakistan People’s Party. However, he said, he had been in touch with Benazir Bhutto and hoped to revive those contacts for chalking out a joint political strategy.
He said he would go to the masses before taking a final decision about an election boycott. The people from all the four provinces would be consulted before finalising the election and future political strategies.
Mr Sharif said he was against all forms of extremism and terrorism and vowed to fight the menace side by side with his struggle against dictatorship. “Dictatorships and extreme political measures breed extremism and fundamentalism.”
He alleged that President Gen Musharraf during his recent visit to Saudi Arabia had tried to stop his return, but King Abdullah had refused to oblige. “I came to Pakistan on Sept 10 with a reconciliatory mood but was again sent into exile. I am here again to rid the country of dictatorship and save it form another martial law.”
According to him, King Abdullah understood it well that only the PML (N) under his (Nawaz Sharif’s) leadership could extricate the country of the present crisis. “I will try my best to unite democratic forces on one platform.”
Talking to reporters at Aiwan-i-Adl after filing his nomination papers, Mr Sharif said he did not feel it was time to call for a mass movement against Gen Pervez Musharraf as “my message (against the regime) is enough to shake off the dictatorship”.
He said a combined movement against Gen Musharraf could be possible if all parties boycotted the general election.
Replying to a question about Gen Musharraf’s decision to quit the army post, Mr Sharif said: “Doffing of uniform does not make any difference. We believe free and fair elections are not possible unless they are held under an independent election commission and the judiciary that existed before November 3.”
He said if the APDM decided to contest elections, the option of an electoral alliance could be explored with the possibility of seat adjustment with all parties, except the PPP.
He called upon the masses to fight for their rights and praised the lawyers’ movement for the rule of law and restoration of the Constitution. He said restoration of the pre-November 3 judiciary topped his agenda.
