LAHORE, Aug 4: The PML-N will hold flag hoisting ceremonies, seminars and meetings at all district headquarters in Punjab on Aug 14 to renew its pledge with the Pakistan ideology.

This was stated by Punjab secretary-general Zaeem Qadri at a press conference here on Thursday.

He said all decisions regarding participating or boycotting the local polls would be taken at the all-party conference to be held in Islamabad on Aug 11.

He said the opposition parties could not field joint candidates at the union council level because all of them wanted to include their workers in the political process. However, joint candidates would be put up for the offices of tehsil and district nazims, he said.

He said certain powers, including Saudi Arabia, had forced Gen Musharraf to release and sent abroad the Sharifs. “That was why aircraft of Saudi airline had landed here to take Nawaz and others to Jeddah.”

He said during the Nawaz’s era, Pakistan had exported sugar to India and production of mills of Chaudhry Shujaat and the Fauji Foundation was included in the export consignment.

He said if issued passport, Mr Sharif would return home.