LAHORE, May 8: The Tehrik-i-Istaqlal has demanded setting up of an interim government for two years after dissolving the present assemblies. Party president Rehmat Khan Wardag told newsmen here on Sunday that the national scenario required an across-the-board accountability, and for the purpose a broad-based interim government was necessary.

Unlike in the past, no-one would be spared this time whether the wrongdoer belonged to the judiciary or the armed forces, he said.

He said Gen Pervez Musharraf would head the interim set-up comprising less than two dozen men of integrity selected from all over the country. However, he did not agree that fresh elections could also solve the problem.

“The corrupt with resources will again occupy the parliament in case polls are held afresh without prior accountability,” he said. Only those were seeking mid-term polls who had lost in the last bout, he asserted.

He demanded early construction of Kalabagh dam without waiting for any consensus as the water reservoir was a question of life and death for the country.

He also stressed the need for an independent judiciary free of all kinds of pressures from any quarters. He regretted that even so-called democratic governments had been denying the judiciary its due independence.

Mr Wardag also sought transparency and fairness in the forthcoming local polls so that a better and able leadership could emerge on merit.

The party was also in favour of the demand for provincial autonomy in which defence, finance, foreign affairs and communications would remain with the centre.

“All other powers should be devolved to provinces and down to union councils,” its executive committee demanded.