ISLAMABAD, July 1: Ruling Pakistan Muslim League (PML) president Chaudhry Shujaat Husain has said that his party must be ready to join hands with any political party or group because strengthening of democratic institutions was the need of the hour.

He said that weak democratic institutions had produced weak leadership in the past and the time had arrived for all patriotic and pro-democratic forces to come forward to strengthen the democratic electoral system in the country.

Talking to party leaders on Friday at the PML House, the former prime minister said the government was determined to hold free, fair and transparent local bodies elections.

Chaudhry Shujaat Husain invited what he termed reasonable suggestions from all political parties to ensure free, fair and transparent electoral process in the country.

He said: “The accusations of ‘Dhandli’ in vogue for the last so many years should end for all times to come and the healthy tradition of accepting victory and defeat with good grace and patience should be established in the national polity.”

He said the electoral process for the second term of district governments had started, which had cleared the fog of rumours and the election, along with political activities, had shifted from Islamabad to various districts, tehsils and towns.

He asked the party workers to spread all over the country and strive for the projection of patriotic, honest people and men of ideology for the local government leadership.

President Gen Pervez Musharraf, he said, had repeatedly stressed on strengthening democratic institutions and if the politicians fail to take advantage of this opportunity, they would be answerable to history.

Chaudhry Shujaat expressed the hope that the entire nation would participate in the polls.