February 04, 2008	Monday	Muharram 25, 1429

ISLAMABAD, Feb 3: Air Marshal (retired) Asghar Khan has resigned as president of Pakistan Tehrik-i-Istaqlal and the resignation has been accepted by the central executive committee of the party.

The CEC of the party unanimously elected Syed Nusrat Ali Shah and Ikram Nagra as acting president and secretary general of the party, respectively.

Speaking at a press conference after a meeting, the newly-elected acting president of the party said a 16-member committee had been formed with a task to hold party elections after a mass contact campaign.

He said absolutely free elections were the only solution to the prevailing crises gripping the country which, he said, was not possible in the presence of a partisan caretaker government and the election commission.

He said the Tehrik-i-Istaqlal would work closely with all the political parties which had announced to boycott the polls with a view to establish a democratic system in the country.

Referring to the Liaquat Bagh tragedy, he said it would not have happened had all the opposition parties decided to boycott the elections.

He said his party would never compromise on principles. He recalled that General Ziaul Haq after imposing martial law in 1977 had tried to strike a deal with Air Marshal Asghar Khan but the latter refused to do so despite being in a bargaining position.

Speaking on the occasion, Ikram Nagra said Air Marshal Asghar Khan came to meet the members of the CEC after the meeting and congratulated the newly-elected office-bearers. He said the veteran politician had promised to remain a life-time member of the party and keep on giving guidelines to its leadership.

The CEC meeting was also attended by Ali Asghar Khan, son of Air Marshal Asghar Khan.