LAHORE, June 17: Minister for Railways Sheikh Rashid Ahmad has said the general elections can be held immediately if President Musharraf decides to get himself re-elected from the next assemblies.

“But if he decides to act otherwise, to get himself elected from the present assemblies, the next general elections may be delayed,” he said while adding that “in his personal opinion, the president should get himself re-elected from the present assemblies between October and November this year.” He was speaking to journalists at the Lahore railway station.

He ruled out the possibility of boycott of the presidential election or submission of resignations by the opposition members. “Barring some foolish people, no body is going to boycott or submit resignation.”

Non-registration of some 15 to 20 million voters in the new voters’ lists was a matter of great concern for the minister who said it indicated that such a large number of people had lost interest in politics. In many constituencies, over 60,000 people did not bother to get their names registered in voters’ list.

“It is high time that the nazims, their deputies and councillors took note and mobilise electorates in their respective areas,” he said while demanding extension to the timeframe for enrolment of new voters.

No party would boycott the election as people had not forgotten the experience of 1985, he maintained while ruling out the possibilities of rigging in the next general elections. “The media has become very strong and rigging under the present circumstances is impossible.”

About Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry’s decision to travel by train to address the Quetta Bar Association, the minister said every ticket holder could travel by any train. “The judiciary is independent and under no pressure. It is evident from the fact that for the first time in the history of Pakistan the government is asking the Supreme Court to decide the matter purely on merit. There are no terms like law of necessity etc.”

To a question, Sheikh Rashid said, “she (Benazir Bhutto) would return after deciding matters and reaching an understanding. However, he (Nawaz Sharif) would come merely to be sent back to Saudi Arabia.