KARACHI, Sept 18: Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan has said that it is high time for all political parties to come to a consensus on a minimum point code of conduct to ensure free, fair and transparent elections in the country.

Addressing a press conference at a local hotel here on Wednesday, he said that most problems were the outcome of interference by the authorities. Except for the army, no institution of the state — including the judiciary — had been allowed to function independently.

He dispelled the impression of seeking an understanding with other political parties for electoral adjustment, and said that his party was the only organization which was opposed to the idea of seat adjustments with other parties, and as such, had not held talks with any party or candidate.

However, his meeting with PPP Parliamentarians chief Amin Faheem was to discuss how to meet the challenge of pre-poll rigging and ensure fair and free elections. “We have reached a one point programme to stop (the) interference of Nazimeen in the election campaign. We (have) drawn the attention of the election commissioner (to) how local government funds were being misused to influence voters by Nazimeen.” In response to this complaint, the EC issued directives warning Nazimeen and government functionaries that if any of them were found influencing the election results, they would be awarded a two year sentence and Rs2000 fine.

He said at present, the code of conduct was literally being violated, and as there was no time to hold an all parties conference to reach a consensus (owing to the fact that leaders of political parties were busy in the election campaigns of their candidates), the matter could be sorted out by holding meetings individually, and the consensus demand could be placed before the election commission.

The PTI chief said it was not only his observation, but almost all major party leaders went on record about pre-poll rigging.

Demanding the dismissal of the principal secretary to President Gen Pervez Musharraf, he held Tariq Aziz responsible for creating the Kings Party and planning to rig the polls.

Asked if his apprehensions about poll-rigging were not removed, would the PTI boycott the October elections, he said that “we don’t intend to boycott the polls, but would certainly chalk out a strategy to meet the situation. We are a party (that wants) to effect changes in the country. Our real competition is with the Pakistan Muslim League (Q), the party where even those who had been arrested by the National Accountability Bureau got clearance.” He cited the example of his opponent in Mianwali, who was hauled away by the NAB, but after joining the PML (Q), he was now in the field.

Replying to questions, he said his was the not the only party which had extended support to Gen Pervez Musharraf for his seven point agenda, but all — except PML (N) — had extended support to him. He said his party withdrew its support to Gen Musharraf after he deviated from his seven point programme. Had he not deviated from this agenda, the PTI would have stood by him, and even now, if Gen Musharraf returned to his original plan, the party was prepared to back him.

Imran Khan said he was contesting the October polls from four NA constituencies — Mianwali, Swat, Karak and Lahore — and those who had attended his public meetings could vouch for his massive support among the youth.

He said if the youth (those below 30 years of age whose strength is said to be over 45 per cent) turned out on polling day, his party would get a fair share of assembly seats.

His party has put up candidates on 60 per cent of the seats in the country, but as many of his candidates could not manage resources, they had been facing problems in carrying out their election campaigns. But the PTI being a party for change, even after the election, the party would continue to strive to cleanse the country of the corrupt mafia and Qabza groups, it was claimed.

Imran Khan, who arrived in the city on Tuesday, addressed corner meetings in support of his party candidates in different areas, including Gulshan-i-Iqbal Town.