November 28, 2007	Wednesday	Ziqa’ad 17, 1428

LAHORE, Nov 27: Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif said on Tuesday he would meet and try to convince PPP chairperson Benazir Bhutto to boycott the coming elections.

Addressing media personnel at the Lahore Press Club, he said that taking part in elections did not make sense in the existing circumstances. “If Ms Bhutto joins hands with other opposition parties, political forces can win the battle for Pakistan,” he added.“It will be much better if parties boycott elections with total consensus. Half-hearted and indecisive measures will neither benefit political forces nor the country, the media and the judiciary. I will try myself to build such a consensus among parties which are still reluctant,” Mr Sharif said.

The PML(N) leader reiterated his earlier stance that he would not be a candidate for the premiership because it did not make sense to even think of that when the country was under martial law and the media and judiciary were under siege.

He said his party would accept Gen Musharraf if he reinstated all deposed judges and got himself cleared from them. “The PML(N) will accept any verdict given by the independent judiciary about Pervez Musharraf.” Flanked by Shahbaz Sharif, he said that the All Parties Democratic Movement could also be converted into an electoral alliance or a seat-adjustment arrangement could be made with parties in the alliance.

Mr Sharif said his party would take all its decisions from the APDM platform. “The PML(N) will neither ditch the alliance nor disband it despite difference of opinions on election issues.”

Earlier, Shahbaz Sharif said that the APDM was convinced of the futility of elections under the present set-up which was a continuation of the previous political dispensation. “This decision is not linked to any other party’s decision to participate in or boycott the elections.”

He said the PML(N) leadership had been in touch with the PPP in the past but did not make any contact over the last two days.

He said the APDM would take a decision about elections in two days. “Though it wants to boycott the polls, it will be premature to talk about it right now because the alliance has put the government on an ultimatum.”