KARACHI, March 3: The defeated political forces in the Feb 18 general elections instead of conceding their defeat are busy hatching conspiracies to drive a wedge between the two major political parties, which have won the people’s mandate.

This was stated by the additional secretary information of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, Sardar Rahim, during a press conference held at the Karachi Press Club here on Monday.

Flanked by the acting president of the PML-N Sindh chapter, Salim Zia, and the provincial information secretary, Zahid Rafiq Butt, the PML-N leader appealed to all the patriotic people and democratic forces in the country to play their role in creating a congenial political atmosphere in the country as Pakistan could not afford any new crisis or confrontation among the political parties, he said.

Mr Rahim said that the people, who at the behest of the presidency, used to make fun of the “Meesaq-i-Jamhooriat” by calling it “Mazaq-i-Jamhooriat” were now making futile efforts to project themselves as the protectors of the same charter of democracy.

He also criticised the leadership of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) for terming Pakistan a historical blunder during a visit to India. The PML-N leader said that it was due to Nawaz Sharif’s statesmanship that the then Indian premier, Atal Behari Vajpai, during his visit to Pakistan had for the first time accepted Pakistan as a reality.

He said that those who were trying to belittle the achievements of Nawaz Sharif would fail to prolong the unconstitutional rule of President Pervez Musharraf.

He said that the PML-N wanted to see all democratic forces stand united so that an atmosphere of political understanding could be created in the interest of the nation and the country.

The acting president of the PML-N, Sindh Chapter, Salim Zia, said that without the restoration of the judiciary to the pre-Nov 3 position, democracy in the country could not flourish.

He said that the MQM had also supported the steps taken by Musharraf since 1999, including the so-called referendum, illegal ouster of the then president, Rafiq Tarar, Lal Masjid operation, military operations in Balochistan, Swat, South and North Waziristan etc.

Mr Zia charged that the dictator had now given the MQM a new task to create a rift between the PPP and PML-N before the commencement of the National Assembly session.

The PML-N acting president said that time was ripe to implement the ‘Charter of Democracy’ in letter and spirit. He urged pro-democracy parties to sink their differences for the early restoration of democracy in Pakistan.

Rafique Butt said that those who were part of the government during the last eight years of Gen Musharraf’s rule would be taken to task.