RAWALPINDI, Aug 31: The ruling Pakistan Muslim League on Friday said that it would resist any move to abolish the local government system and criticised PPP chairperson Benazir Bhutto’s demand for dissolving the local governments before the general elections.

Talking to reporters here during the inaugural ceremony of the newly-launched Rescue Service ‘1122’, Punjab Chief Minister Pervaiz Elahi said that the local government system would stay because it was necessary for the con-tinuity of democratic environment.

“This system has helped people at the grassroots level and one cannot abolish the devolution system. We will not accept the abolition of the system,” he said.

Replying to a question, Mr Elahi said that President General Musharraf himself would decide about his uniform as no one had the right to dictate the president to step down as army chief.

He rejected an impression that the return of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif would overshadow the ruling PML and said that the party would face him (Nawaz) politically.

He claimed that Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) was no more a force in Punjab.

“Nawaz Sharif will breach his commitment with the Saudi government by returning to Pakistan, but one thing is clear that he (Nawaz) will not get the desired objectives in the country,” he said.

Railways Minister Sheikh Rashid, Provincial Minister for Law Raja Basharat and City Nazim Javed Ikhlas were present on the occasion.