LAHORE, May 15: If the ruling party believes that it is really popular, it should announce general elections during the current year and test its standing among the electorate, says an ARD leader. Alliance deputy information secretary Munir Ahmad Khan said in a press statement on Sunday that polls under the supervision of an independent election commission would make it clear which party enjoyed how much support.

He alleged that the rulers were afraid of fresh polls as they knew that they had reached the assemblies through rigging.

He claimed that in free and fair elections, the PPP would emerge victorious. However, he said, the ruling coalition did not believe in democracy and wanted to stay on with the support lent by Gen Musharraf’s uniform.

The ARD leader alleged that the presidency had been made a “sanctuary for looters” rather than the symbol of federation. He said the presidency had become the headquarter of a particular party.