LAHORE, Sept 12: General elections will be held before the presidential election if an understanding is not reached with the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), says Railways Minister Sheikh Rashid.

At a press conference at the Railways Headquarters, the minister said: “The government wants to hold negotiations with all political parties to promote national reconciliation ahead of the general elections.” He said talks with the PPP were in progress as part of this strategy and added: “Doors are open for talks with all political parties. The government has not adopted a discriminatory policy against any party. When we talk of national reconciliation it means the government is ready for talks with all political parties.”

To a question about the possibility of talks with the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), he said the government was ready for talks with all parties, but their was “no room for the politics of stubbornness and inflexibility” in Pakistan. He said talks with the PPP would continue even if an understanding is not reached with Benazir Bhutto.

To a question what will be the position of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League (PML) if President Musharraf strikes a deal with the PPP, the minister said: “It will be on board.”

On reports regarding return of Kalsoom Nawaz to Pakistan, he said she could do so because she had not gone abroad under any deal.

Ahmad said the PML had enough votes to re-elect Musharraf, but it was seeking other parties’ support only to make the re-election credible. He said it was up to the president to decide if he wanted to be re-elected from the incumbent or next assemblies.

He said it would not have made any difference if Nawaz Sharif would have been allowed to stay in Pakistan. “Not even 100 people came out in Rawalpindi to support him.”

He said there was no chance of imposition of martial law, however, there was a constitutional provision for emergency.—APP