GILGIT, Oct 24: Pakistan Muslim League president for the Northern Areas, Wahid Khan, who lost to an independent candidate in NA-1 during the recently-held Northern Areas Legislative Council (NALC) elections, has blamed sectarian elements for his defeat.

He told a press conference here on Saturday that sectarian leaders were misleading people and their acts were inhibiting the political process in the region.

He said these elements were fanning sectarian hatred and destroying peace and harmony in the area.

He alleged that his rival candidate, Himayatullah, who has recently joined the PML, had been a district president of a banned sectarian organization and launched his election campaign on sectarian grounds and anti-Musharraf slogans.

"The religious leaders had pledged to remain neutral during the elections but they formed committees and the chief of Tanzeem Ahl-i-Sunnat went door to door to beg votes for my rival in the name of a slain SSP chief's blood," he said.

"This is shameful. They branded me an agent of Musharraf and propagated that he was responsible for the fall of the Taliban and carrying out the Wana operation on Bush's bidding."

Mr Khan said he would like to know why Himayatullah Khan had joined the PML unconditionally if President Musharraf's policies were against Islam.

He vowed that he would never budge from working for peace in the region until sectarian elements were flushed out.

He asked the religious leaders to stop issuing Fatwas against President Musharraf and his government because their 'true face' had been exposed.