LAHORE, March 18: The Awami National Party says free and fair elections can be held only under an independent interim set-up. “The new chief election commissioner cannot hold fair polls for he has been appointed by the man who had unconstitutionally thrown an elected government and who himself became head of the state,” party’s secretary-general Ehsan Wyne told Dawn on Saturday.

The judiciary is also disqualified to do the job because it had taken oath under the PCO and taken several pro-dictator decisions, he added.

He further said even a CEC nominated by the opposition could not guarantee a fair election process ensuring trust of all the stakeholders because in the present set-up he would have no powers to take independent decisions.

“Only an interim government which enjoys confidence of all parties can ensure free and impartial polls.”

Answering a question, Mr Wyne said the ANP would support the combined opposition if it boycotted next elections to be held under Gen Musharraf.

The party was also ready to tender resignations of its MPs (10 MPAs in the NWFP Assembly and two senators) from assemblies if other opposition parties did the same, he added.

He supported the idea of signing a code of conduct by all political parties for saying no to army intervention in politics in future and siding with the elected government at such a time.

“This will really help build democratic institutions and set better and honourable democratic norms within a couple of decades,” he believed.

According to Mr Wyne, his party would not become part of any movement against the present rulers which would pave way for establishment of a new dictatorship.

He said though the ANP was not a national parliamentary party, it had been and would help other national parties in strengthening national institutions and putting the political process on the right track.

Replying to a query, he said the NAB had acted in a way that had put a question mark on the whole accountability process.

“He who changed loyalties to join the ruling party was exonerated by the NAB even though he had devoured millions and billions of rupees out of the national kitty.”

He demanded that now the masses should be authorised to hold accountable their leaders through their right to vote.