ISLAMABAD, May 19: The Pakistan Muslim League (N) on Saturday said the opposition will block General Musharraf’s move to rig the presidential election. Talking to reporters here, Secretary Information PML-N Ahsan Iqbal claimed that General Musharraf was now fully exposed after admitting that he might even resort to extra-constitutional steps to get himself re-elected as president.

“Now there is no confusion in anybody’s mind that General Musharraf was behind Muttahida Qaumi Movement’s carnage in Karachi,” he remarked.

“The statements of Musharraf and Altaf Hussain are same in logic and rationale. The manner in which General Musharraf is defending the MQM makes the nation wonder whether it has changed its name to Musharraf Qaumi Movement,” he said.

“General Musharraf’s assertion that he will not allow Mr Nawaz Sharif and Ms Benazir Bhutto to return before elections is baseless,” Mr Iqbal said.

“Mr Sharif will return to Pakistan before the elections and now it is time for General Musharraf to go. Next general elections will not be held under Musharraf but a neutral caretaker government. The struggle in Pakistan is no longer between the government and opposition forces, but instead it is between two competing visions for the future of Pakistan. The question is whether Pakistan will become a garrison state or a democratic state.’’ —Reporter