LAHORE, May 27: Qaumi Jamhoori Party’s president-elect Omar Asghar Khan says the country will ultimately need a full time chief of army staff. At present, however, the demand is untimely.

Answering reporters’ questions after a press conference here on Monday, he said the issue must be left for the government to formed following the forthcoming elections.

To another question, he said elections must be held in time border tensions with India notwithstanding. An elected government, in fact, would be better able to tackle the situation.

Mr Khan, however, did not see any need for establishing an interim government to handle the border situation and hold free and fair elections in the country. “The (present) Election Commission should hold polls in a transparent and manner.”

About alleged irregularities in the April 30 referendum, he said these should be investigated.

Asked if the QJP would support the constitutional amendments likely to be introduced by the military government, he said it would support the amendments meant to give the provinces and the have-nots.

Admitting that the amendments would be unconstitutional until their ratification by the parliament, he hoped that the military government would allow time for a debate and try to build a consensus.

Mr Khan argued for retaining only four subjects with the centre and devolving the rest to the provinces.

About his party’s policy on the water situation, Mr Khan said water should be distributed among provinces according to the 1994 formula. However, if a province had some reservations about a project like the Greater Thal Canal, its argument should get due consideration.

He ruled out joining the National Alliance saying “we have a different approach on various issues.” He said electoral adjustments could be made with various parties.

Earlier, he told reporters that party elections in the QJP had been completed and that the election manifesto had been prepared. The manifesto promises provision of justice to the masses, end to tyranny, exploitation, economic disparities and a few families’ monopoly of national resources, a change in political culture and increased representation of women and minorities, land reforms, more jobs and lower prices. The QJP national council demanded reservation of seats for peasants and labourers like technocrats and release of labourers arrested in Balochistan. It praised the restraint shown by the government on Kashmir issue and called for a tripartite — Kashmiris, Pakistan and India — dialogue.

It stressed the need for certain electoral reforms, including a ceiling on campaign spending.