ISLAMABAD, Aug 12: The ruling Pakistan Muslim League (PML) has refuted allegations that Finance Minister Shaukat Aziz has concealed details of his assets while submitting nomination papers and asked opposition parties to do "issue-oriented politics."

Speaking at a news conference here on Thursday, PML secretary-general Mushahid Hussain, Senator Mohammad Ali Durrani and Senator Tariq Azeem said the party "reserved the right to take legal action against those making baseless allegations against Mr Aziz."

He said they were seeking lawyers' opinion whether the party should ask the Election Commission to take appropriate action against the opposition for violating section 78 of the election rules by levelling "baseless allegations" against a candidate.

Mr Hussain criticized the opposition for making personal attacks on Mr Aziz. He said the opposition had the right to criticize the vision and the policy of Mr Aziz, but it could in no way indulge in character assassination of a person.

He said Shaukat Aziz visited his constituency in Hasanabdal with the Punjab chief minister on Thursday morning for the first time after a suicide attack on him. He said the PML did not want to put lives of common people in danger and that was why the election campaign of Mr Aziz was being run under a planned scheme.

Responding to a question, Senator Tariq Azeem said the development work started before announcement of the election schedule in Attock could not be stopped. "It will be an injustice with the people of the area," he added.