LAHORE, July 8: The Pakistan People’s Party insisted on Monday that Benazir Bhutto was competent, notwithstanding the federal law ministers’s assertion, to head the party and participate in the general elections. However, it is willing to hold intra-party elections, including the election for the office of the chairperson, if necessary, under the new Political Parties Order.

The PML(N), on the other hand, said it was not sure whether Mian Nawaz Sharif could lead the party or take part in the elections as per the PPO, as it was not clear if his disqualification for a period of 21 years from holding any office, had also been waived before his banishment to Saudi Arabia in December 2000.

The party says that it has no intention to choose a new party president as Mian Nawaz Sharif was elected for the office only in May last year.

Federal Law Minister, Dr Khalid Ranjha, had said in an interview with Dawn that both the former prime ministers were disqualified from contesting the elections or heading their respective parties.

The Alliance for Restoration of Democracy (ARD), of which the PPP and the PML(N) are major components, is thinking of challenging the constitutional amendments package and the PPO in the supreme court.

The PPP is examining the requirements of the Political Parties Order and, if mandatory, will hold intra-party elections, including the election for the office of the chairperson, by the deadline set by the government, acting secretary-general Reza Rabbani said.

 Rabbani said that so far there was no law which could prevent Ms Bhutto from taking part in the elections or heading the party.

To keep the PPP out of power, Rabbani said, the government could go to any extent. The PPP, he said, was monitoring the situation and was prepared for any eventuality.

The party, he said, was not sure whether the government would hold elections in October. He said for the time being the PPP was keeping both options, participation as well as boycott, open.

He said that the PPP would take a final decision in the matter in consultation with other parties in the ARD.

He demanded that elections to the national and provincial assemblies be held on the same day.

PML(N): Party chairman Raja Zafarul Haq said the government was doing its best to make it impossible for Mian Nawaz Sharif to head the party or take part in the electoral process. But, he said, it would not succeed in its designs.