LAHORE, Jan 6: Pakistan Jamhoori Tehreek convener Safdar Hasan Siddiqi has called upon all opposition parties to form a united front to save the country from ‘dictatorship’.

In a statement issued here on Sunday, Siddiqi said that postponement of elections was unnecessary and unconstitutional. He doubted that the elections would be held on Feb 18 and said that the rulers were bent upon keeping their hold on power and they would go to any length for this purpose.

“If the government is sincere in holding free, fair and transparent elections, then President Pervez Musharraf should restore the Constitution and the superior judiciary to pre-Nov 3 position, set up a neutral interim government and a new Election Commission with the consent of all political parties. He should also step down and hand over the government to the Senate chairman.”

He appealed to the opposition parties to agree on a united line of action and cooperate and coordinate with each other. He urged them to evolve consensus on basic issues concerning the people. —Reporter