LAHORE, Feb 26: PPP Sindh Secretary-General Nafees Siddiqui has demanded immediate elections under an interim national government, fearing the polls, if delayed, might be jeopardized because of the rapidly deteriorating regional situation.

Talking to Dawn here on Monday, he said the standoff on Iran’s nuclear programme could lead to an unpredictable situation in which it would not be possible for the rulers to hold elections on time. He said instead of waiting for the situation to slip out of control, the rulers should hold the polls and allow the exiled leaders to return home and lead their respective parties.

He said being the most popular leaders, Ms Benazir Bhutto and Mian Nawaz Sharif were in a better position to rule the country and solve people’s problems.

The PPP leader alleged that Gen Musharraf was trying to prolong his rule with the help of undemocratic forces.

Siddiqui also expressed serious concern over the situation in Balochistan and tribal areas of the NWFP.

He said Balochistan government could not be called representative one as it had been created by the establishment. To restore the government’s writ in Balochistan, he said, the authorities should hold talks with parties like the JWP, ANP, PONAM, BNP, ARD and the ANP. He warned the situation could not be normalised unless the rulers engaged political forces in the process.

He said military operation in NWFP tribal areas was serving no purpose. The army, he said, was used only as a last resort, and if it too failed to produce desired results, everything else would become irrelevant. He said the government should not let such a situation develop there.

The PPP leader said the use of more force in tribal areas would result in more reaction from extremist elements, which would cause trouble for the innocent people. He suggested the rulers should seek MMA’s help to deal with the situation.

The PPP leader said the confidence building measures had failed to improve the country’s ties with India. He said a small incident could reverse the progress made by the two sides, which only established the vulnerability of the entire peace process. He saw no hope for a lasting peace in the subcontinent.