LAHORE, Jan 20: The PML-Q on Monday said opposition parties should not raise objections against President Gen Musharraf simultaneously holding the office of the army chief and his power to sack assemblies in view of transitional period the country was passing through at present.

The party secretary-general Salim Saifullah Khan said while replying to a question at a news conference at the Muslim League House that references to such niceties at this juncture could harm the democratic system.

However, he held out an assurance that time would come when all decisions would be taken in accordance with public aspirations.

The PML-Q leader praised Gen Musharraf for honouring his commitment to hold elections in three years, unlike his predecessors who stayed in power for more than a decade each.

At present, he said, there was need for an ideal harmony among the president, the prime minister and the ruling party. He said the PML-Q would strive to take opposition parties along.

Opposing the demand for fresh elections, Khan said price hike and unemployment, not fresh polls, were the real problems and the opposition leader so fond of elections should better come up with some solution to these issues which were affecting very family.

He denied reports that any effort was being made to bring back the exiled Sharifs or the prime minister or any important functionary was in contact with them.

In response to a question, he said the PML-Q was trying to seek unification with League factions led by Pir Pagara, Hamid Nasir Chattha, Mian Manzoor Wattoo and Ejazul Haq.

He did not name the PML-N, a potent faction compared to these parties.

Asked whether former PML-Q president Mian Azhar could be given some responsibility in the new situation, Khan said it was for the party to take a decision.

Responding to a question, the PML-Q leader said his party wanted a peaceful solution to the Iraq problem.

About the registration of the Pakistanis in the US, he said the PML-Q was holding a conference in Islamabad on Thursday to discuss the issue and evolve national consensus. Intellectuals and leaders from other parties would be invited to the moot, he said.

About the enforcement of the decision to separate the party and government offices, he said Prime Minister Jamali and Foreign Minister Kasuri had already resigned their party offices and others would soon follow suit.

He made it clear that as a sovereign country Pakistan would not allow any foreign agency to conduct raids anywhere in the country. If at all such an action was necessary, it would be taken by the local agencies.

Kamil Ali Agha, Aktar Rasool, Faqir Husain Bukhari, Begum Mehnaz Rafi, Khwaja Riaz Mahmood and Imran Khan were also present at the news conference.