LAHORE: Former prime minister Yousuf Raza Gilani indicated here on Sunday that general elections would be postponed if a clash between state institutions was not averted.

“If (perceived) clash between institutions (executive and judiciary) continues, predictions about (delay in) elections will come true,” he told journalists after a meeting with Pir Pagara Sibghatullah Rashidi.

Pir Pagara said he did not see general elections being held in the near future.

“Such speculations (of delay in polls) are made when injustices take place,” Mr Gilani said.

He advised “the institutions to work within their respective domains and adhere to ‘trichotomy of powers’ in accordance with the Constitution”.

Alleging that injustice had been done to him in the Supreme Court verdict on NRO judgment implementation case, the former prime minister advised all political parties to demonstrate maturity and stop ‘blindly supporting’ the apex court. He cautioned them that an order could come against them as well.

He reiterated his stand that a letter to Swiss authorities for reopening graft cases against President Asif Zardari could not be written as far as the Constitution granted exemption to the head of state from prosecution in criminal cases.

But Pir Pagara differed with his host and asserted that a clash with the Supreme Court would be improper. He called for finding a middle way through “give and take” on the letter issue in accordance with the court’s directives.

The PML-F chief accused the PPP’s Sindh government of having failed to deliver, especially on the law and order issue.

He alleged that a discriminatory treatment was being meted out to alleged criminals in MQM ranks and demanded that action should be taken against all criminal elements, regardless of the party they belonged to.

Asked who was responsible for the situation in Karachi, Pir Pagara whose party is a coalition partner in the Sindh government blamed some political parties, the government and incompetent and dishonest officers for the current state of affairs.

He said the situation could be reversed within 15 days if honest officers were appointed to key posts.

Asked if his party would continue its alliance with the PPP in the next elections he said a decision would be taken on the basis of ground realities at an appropriate time.

Mr Gilani, however, said that his party would do its best to keep the alliance intact and address the weaknesses pointed out by allies.

He parried a question about names being discussed in the PPP for the post of caretaker prime minister and said free and fair polls always suited his party and it was with the same spirit that it had accepted PML-N’s nominee as chief election commissioner.