LAHORE, Nov 1: Former governor Malik Ghulam Mustafa Khar says conditions are not conducive for the holding of general elections and those expecting the government to hold elections under the present circumstances are living in a fool’s paradise.

Addressing a news conference at the Lahore Press Club on Thursday, Khar said he did not see elections being held “because extremism and terrorism starting from the far-off mountainous regions are now knocking at our doors”.

He said the government was encouraging terrorism because its continuation was necessary for ensuring continuous American support for it. Gen Pervez Musharraf’s policies had resulted in confrontation between the armed forces and the people in a country where nobody even talked against the army.

He said there was an urgent need for national unity and reconciliation between the politicians in the opposition. They should sink their differences in the larger national interest and join hands for restoration of democracy in the country.

The PPP chairperson should not accept any office under Gen Pervez Musharraf because no deal with him could work under the present circumstances. She should visit Saudi Arabia instead and meet Mian Nawaz Sharif and revive the Charter of Democracy. Maulana Fazlur Rehman and Imran Khan should also reconcile in the larger national interest.

He criticised Attorney General Malik Muhammad Qayyum for giving threats of martial law to ‘terrorise’ the people and prevent the Supreme Court judges from giving a decision against Gen Pervez Musharraf in his eligibility case.

He also condemned Punjab Chief Minister Pervaiz Elahi’s vilification campaign against Benazir Bhutto and accused him of bringing a bad name to the province, making announcements to elect Gen Musharraf as president in uniform again and again.

Khar said he would contest election against Chaudhrys of Gujrat and proposed that son of Mian Nawaz Sharif or Shahbaz Sharif should contest election against Pervaiz Elahi’s son Moonis Elahi.