LAHORE, Dec 30: The PML-N announced on Sunday that it would take part in the Jan 8 election in line with a decision taken by the PPP’s central executive committee at a crucial meeting in Larkana earlier in the day.

However, PML-N chairman Raja Zafarul Haq told Dawn that a formal and final announcement in this regard would be made after a meeting of the party’s central working committee to be held in Islamabad on Jan 1.

PML-N leader Mian Nawaz Sharif had announced immediately after the assassination of Benazir Bhutto on Dec 27 that his party would boycott the polls to express solidarity with the PPP.

Mr Haq endorsed a PPP demand that a UN commission should probe Ms Bhutto’s assassination.

Mr Sharif himself said in a TV interview that nobody would want the elections delayed as such a step could provide the rulers with an opportunity to rig the polls. He said the PML-Q was non-existent, and stood no chance in the polls.

He said his party respected the PPP’s decision to appoint Bilawal Bhutto Zardari as their new chairman.

“We respect all decisions (taken by the PPP’s central executive committee).”

Mr Sharif said that in the presence of Gen Musharraf an impartial inquiry into the assassination of the PPP chairperson was not possible.