KARACHI, Feb 11: Former President of Pakistan and Chief of Millat Party Sardar Farooq Ahmed Khan Leghari has expressed the confidence that general elections in the country will be held in October as per schedule.

Speaking at a news conference at Karachi Press Club on Monday, Mr Leghari said “I see no reason for the postponement or cancellation of the polls”.

To a question, he said those candidates who fulfilled the required conditions should be allowed to participate in the elections.

“But in case any leader who committed any crime, indulged in corruption or has been accused of corrupt practices or convicted, then the law of the land should be applied in all such cases.”

The people are now looking for new parties, new programmes and new leadership for a change, he opined.

Replying a question, the former president said 1997 general elections were fair, free and transparent.

Mr Leghari said after assuming power Mian Nawaz Sharif ignored the promises he had made with the people and indulged in the lust for more power.

He claimed that Nawaz Sharif had offered him another five-year term as President and had also promised to provide guarantee for this from two Middle Eastern leaders.

He accused Nawaz Sharif of having become a ‘fascist dictator’ who steered Pakistan towards destruction.

He suggested that there should be a change in the political culture, democracy and the constitution should be strengthened with law to remain supreme.

Mr Leghari observed that the improvements brought in the economic conditions through institutional reforms should be further strengthened and that all the political parties should work on the basic institutional reforms.

He maintained that during the past 20 years a sum of 50 billion dollars had been illegally transferred from Pakistan to the West.

This money belonged to the people of Pakistan but has been ‘looted’ by the corrupt politicians, bureaucrats and services personnel and has been kept either in the West or with the offshore companies, he added.

“Our main demand and appeal is that this money be brought back to Pakistan”, he stressed.

He said the United States and the West were seeking full cooperation from Pakistan in tackling the problem of terrorism and that Pakistan should also seek the assistance of the American and the Western leadership for the return of the ‘looted money’.—APP