LAHORE, Jan 7: Opposing any action by foreign troops on Pakistani soil, the Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) has urged foreign countries to desist from making “irresponsible” statements about Islamabad’s nuclear programme as it was well-protected.

Briefing the media after a meeting of the central working committee of the PML-N here on Monday, party patron Nawaz Sharif reiterated its offer of calling on President Musharraf for steering the country out of the crisis it is in provided the latter sought no public office in the future setup.

He said the working committee expressed its serious concern at reports of proposed foreign military action inside Pakistani territory, and vowed to safeguard sovereignty of the country against any such transgression.

He also urged foreign countries to desist from making reckless statements about Islamabad’s nuclear programme, saying the country had a strong command and control system in place for the safety of its nuclear assets.

He told a questioner that he had no personal enmity with President Musharraf and was ready to meet him for working together to pull the country out of the present turmoil.

The PML-N leader believed that free and fair elections under President Musharraf were not possible as the latter had a vested interest in the victory of those elements who would support his `illegal’ action of Nov 3. But, he warned that rigging of polls would not augur well for the federation.

“At a time when tempers are running high (especially in Sindh after the assassination of PPP chairperson Benazir Bhutto) the rigging will prove disastrous for the integration of the federation. The situation will even worsen as a man like me who has been prime minister twice is unaware which course the country is presently going.”

He said the situation warranted that Gen Musharraf should immediately resign to make way for a consensus national government under the Senate chairman which would hold the polls.

Asked if he believed the elections would be held on Feb 18, he said that he wanted the electoral exercise be not delayed further and that it must be held without Musharraf.

Asked why his party was contesting the polls while President Musharraf was holding the sway, he said the PML-N was taking part in the elections as a last resort “to win the war for restoration of the Constitution and the judiciary”.

Mr Sharif condemned the PML-Q electioneering in which the PPP leadership was being accused of plotting Benazir Bhutto’s killing and the rioting in the wake of it. “It is like rubbing salt into the wounds of Sindh,” he said.

He, however, said that he still had differences with the PPP like on the issue of restoration of the judiciary. He said that he considered restoration of the deposed superior courts’ judges a must for upholding the rule of law.

Asked if he had requested the government for improving the security cover being provided to him, the former prime minister said in view of the present situation the government must not have waited for a formal request. He, however, said the authorities had taken some more steps regarding his security after the Pindi incident, though these were not up to the mark.

He told a questioner that a decision to launch election campaign of the party all over the country would be taken within next few days after finalising security arrangements.

To another query, Mr Sharif said his party had collected enough evidence to expose the PML-Q’s alleged rigging plan and it would soon be made public.

He said this was the time the country needed reconciliation to move forward on the path of development and progress.

He said after coming into power his party would definitely construct big and small dams while realising the fact that the country could not afford energy crisis if it really wanted to become a developed state.