KARACHI, Aug 18: The chief of PML (Functional) Pir Pagara has expressed the confidence that general elections will be held on Oct 10 next, but said there would be no political role for the two former prime ministers Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif.

Talking to newsmen at his residence in Karachi on Sunday, Pir Pagara described his meeting with President Pervez Musharraf a few days back as extremely good.

Replying to a question, the PML (F) chief said armed forces in civilized countries remained in their barracks and followed orders of the civil elected democratic governments.

Responding to another question, he maintained that the country was now being ruled under the 1985 constitution and not the unanimously adopted constitution of 1973.

Answering to another question he said the western powers wanted to make Pakistan a consumer country of their products.

Pir Pagara expressed his optimism about the unification of various factions of Muslim League. He said that any Nazim of the local government wishing to contest the elections has to resign, but others will remain in office.

Replying to another question he said his party had applied for election symbol and would be allotted the same on Monday.

He added that after the grant of registration to his party by the Election Commission, no other party could contest the election with the same name.—PPI/APP