FAISALABAD, Dec 10: Pakistan Muslim League (N) leader Nawaz Sharif launched his party’s election campaign on Monday with the ‘sole aim’ of restoring the superior judiciary to the Nov 2 position.

“The PML (N) is taking part in the elections only for restoring the judiciary,” he told a large public meeting at the Dhobi Ghat ground here. He said Pakistan was the only country in the civilised world where superior court judges had been sacked and detained.

“The entire world is laughing at us because of the attack on judiciary and treatment meted out to the judges,” he said.

Criticising President Pervez Musharraf, he said the people must “defeat Musharraf”, and that would mean a victory for Pakistan.

“It is time for a revolution … The time for raising mere slogans has passed. I am working for this, instead of becoming prime minister again. Keeping in view the current domestic situation, I have been in contact with Benazir Bhutto for the purpose of saving the country.”

Mr Sharif urged the people to reject candidates fielded by the PML (Q) in order not to strengthen President Musharraf, adding that he would reject his policies if his party was voted into power.

He said it was necessary to wage a struggle against the rulers to save Pakistan from further fragmentation and avoid a situation that caused the fall of Dhaka. “That’s why I am among you (and) launching a struggle in support of Pakistan.”

He said President Musharraf was following a destructive policy, carpet-bombing was being carried out in various parts of the country in the name of war against terror. He said sky-rocketing prices of items of daily use had made the lives of the people miserable.

Mr Sharif urged government officials not to abide by what he termed illegal orders of President Musharraf. Earlier, party activists accorded a warm welcome to Mr Sharif when his motorcade reached the Kamalpur interchange on the Motorway. He was driven to Dhobi Ghat ahead of a big procession.