Nawaz wants united opposition

Published December 23, 2006

ISLAMABAD, Dec 22: Pakistan Muslim League-N chief Nawaz Sharif is contacting leaders of opposition parties asking them to unite on one platform for restoration of genuine democracy through a five-point agenda, says party information secretary Ahsan Iqbal.

Talking to reporters here on Friday, he elaborated the five-point agenda of Mr Sharif which included restoration of parliament’s sovereignty and supremacy through holding fair, free and open elections under a neutral caretaker government formed in consultation with opposition parties minus Gen Pervez Musharraf.

Mr Iqbal said the first point of Mr Sharif’s agenda was to ensure restoration of 1973 Constitution as it existed on October 12, 1999.

Other points include an independent judiciary, creation of an independent and effective election commission in consultation with opposition parties, and removing ‘unconstitutional and unethical hurdles’ in the way of national leadership’s return to the country.

Mr Iqbal said the next year’s election would be a milestone in the history of Pakistan as it would decide whether Pakistan moved towards democratic order or anarchy in the 21st century.

“If the next elections are controversial then Pakistan will slide into chaos and its federation will come under extreme pressures,” he said, adding “Pakistani nation deserves fair and free election like other nations.”

The PML-N information secretary said if leaders of the two major parties were not allowed to lead election campaigns of their parties then the electoral process would be considered a mockery by people in the country and international community leading to Pakistan’s embarrassment.

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