ISLAMABAD, Oct 22: The Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) has opposed the ongoing talks between President Gen Pervez Musharraf and the Pakistan People’s Party on the formation of a caretaker government.

“A caretaker government of pro-Musharraf forces will be a facade. If such rigging schemes are to be employed there is no need for staging drama of an election,” PML (N) information secretary Ahsan Iqbal said in a statement issued here on Monday.

He said Gen Musharraf and his supporters were not the only party to the next general elections; other political parties were also the stakeholders.

Mr Iqbal said the elections under the supervision of a neutral caretaker government set up in consultation with all political parties was the only solution for future stability.

“The reports of a deal between Gen Musharraf and the PPP over formation of a caretaker government are disturbing because if such development took place then it will be strongly resisted,” he said.

He said in view of the prevailing situation and deepening political crisis in the country, it had become absolutely essential that the election took place in a transparent manner. Otherwise, it would throw the country into a new cycle of political instability.

The PML (N) leader said the All Parties Democratic Movement would discuss this issue in its next meeting and work out a course of action to block Gen Musharraf’s rigging plans.

“Pakistanis deserve a fair and free election, which is not possible under Gen Musharraf,” he said.

He also criticised the promulgation of the National Reconciliation Ordinance, saying that his party was opposed to the NRO because there was not a single word on democracy in it.

“The NRO is only about granting indemnity to those politicians in criminal and corruption cases who have decided to join the Musharraf’s team,” he alleged.

He said the PML (N) believed that all politicians must defend their cases before courts of law and his party could defend all the cases against its leadership.

Mr Iqbal said the federation was facing serious challenges as a result of eight years of military rule. He said that national institutions of governance were mostly dysfunctional as all decisions were being taken in the presidency against the constitutional scheme.

He said former prime minister Nawaz Sharif’s struggle was not just about returning home, but to return with the victory of democratic principles. He could have easily returned to Pakistan in 2002 had he agreed to join hands with Gen Musharraf, Mr Iqbal said.