KARACHI, Feb 2: Acknowledging the fact that the current wheat and electricity crises had caused damage to the Pakistan Muslim League-Q, the party’s top leadership conceded on Saturday that they had committed blunders during their five-year term in office.

“We admit that we made mistakes. The flour and electricity crises have damaged us politically. But at least we have the courage of accepting our mistakes,” PML-Q secretary-general Senator Mushahid Hussain Syed told a press conference here. Former prime minister and PML-Q president Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain also addressed the gathering.Mr Mushahid, however, promised not to commit what he called ‘old mistakes’ if the party came into power after the February 18 polls in the country.

Flanked by provincial party chief Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim, Mr Mushahid vowed to continue the economic policies of the PML-Q government after the election.

To a question, Chaudhry Shujaat said he did not see any possibility of postponement of general election. “This is out of the question. We will resist any attempt to sabotage the upcoming election.”

Chaudhry Shujaat denied that the party had committed any mistake by publishing a controversial ad in newspapers. However, Mr Mushahid intervened and said that it was an error and the party had already admitted its mistake.

With regard to his meeting with Muttahida Qaumi Movement chief Altaf Hussain in London, the PML-Q president said that he had discussed election related issues.

In reply to a question, Chaudhry Shujaat said that the construction of the Kalabagh Dam was not in the list of party’s manifesto.

Mr Mushahid said that President Musharraf had raised the issue of arrest and deportation of Chaudhry Wajahat Hussain with Prime Minister Gordon Brown during his Jan 28 meeting.

He said that a senior UK government official, Sir Mark Lyall Grant met Chaudhry Shujaat in London to clarify that the police had acted on the basis of information which subsequently proved to be inaccurate. “The British government deeply regrets the incident and is sorry for any personal distress that was caused to the individuals concerned,” he added.

According to a press release, the British official said once it was realized that the information was inaccurate the men were released. They are free to return to the UK anytime.