ISLAMABAD, Oct 12: The People’s Party Parliamentarians (PPP) and the Pakistan Muslim League-N on Thursday have expressed doubts about fairness of next elections, reacting strongly to Gen Pervez Musharraf’s statement that former prime ministers Nawaz Sharif and Benazir Bhutto would not be allowed to participate in the polls.

Former senator Farhatullah Khan Babar rejected Gen Musharraf’s contention and said that it was for the people of Pakistan, and not for any individual, to decide who shall represent and lead them in the elections.

“Those who don’t want to see Benazir Bhutto to return to Pakistan and taking part in election, may climb up a tree or jump into a lake or whatever they want to do, but Ms Bhutto will return to take part in the polls,” Mr Babar said.

PML-N’s information secretary Ahsan Iqbal, in a statement, said that Musharraf’s statement actually meant that the next elections would not be held in a free and fair manner.

He said that it was for the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to decide about the eligibility of any candidate. He said that Gen Musharraf’s statement had also proved that he was not ready to accept the ECP’s role.

Mr Iqbal said it was ridiculous that Gen Musharraf, who continued to hold the office of the army chief, in the most disciplined institution, well beyond the third term and aspired even for fourth, wanted democratic parties to bring forward alternate leadership.

The PML-N leader said that Pakistan could not afford another controversial election.

Mr Iqbal said the biggest danger facing the Quaid’s Pakistan was military dictatorship, which in the past caused disintegration of Pakistan and was now again pushing the country towards internal disunity and crisis. “In Quaid’s Pakistan there is no room for military s interference in politics,” he added.