PESHAWAR, April 4: The Awami National Party (ANP) has called for the return of PPP chairperson Benazir Bhutto and exiled PML-N leader Nawaz Sharif to save the country from falling into the hands of extremist elements. ANP central senior-vice president Haji Ghulam Ahmad Bilour in a statement said Benazir and Nawaz Sharif must be allowed to come back and contest general elections in 2007.

President Musharraf had failed to implement his policies in the country, he said.

He said parliament, judiciary and democratic institutions were in the hands of one man, therefore, any other individual or the nation had no importance.

The ANP leader warned that religious extremists would have an open field in the next elections if Ms Bhutto and Mr Nawaz Sharif were not allowed to return home and contest the polls.

He said increasing prices of flour, sugar, electricity, gas and petrol belied the tall claims of the Musharraf regime.