LAHORE, Jan 16: The Pakistan People’s Party and the Awami National Party have opposed PML-N leader Nawaz Sharif’s demands for an interim government of national consensus and announcement of a new election schedule.

Leaders of both the parties said on Wednesday that they would not accept any delay in the elections.

PPP’s Information Secretary Sherry Rehman said she was surprised by Mr Sharif’s demand, adding that: “As far as I know, they did not talk to the PPP (before expressing their views)”.

ANP’s secretary-general Ehsan Wyne said his party would not support any call for postponing the polls.

The ANP would launch a protest campaign if the elections were rescheduled, he warned.

Ms Rehman said although her party had reservations on a number of issues, it did not want any deviation in the election schedule, adding that a new controversy would flare up if the polls were deferred again.

Mr Wyne said elections alone could safeguard the country’s integrity and any move to defer them could create a 1971-like situation. He said the NWFP and Sindh would not tolerate any delay in polls.

Mr Wyne said he knew that a number of parties wanted President Pervez Musharraf to step down immediately.