LAHORE, July 20: Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal deputy secretary-general Hafiz Husain Ahmad says fair elections are not possible under dictatorship.

Speaking at a seminar on `Concept of transparent elections in democracy’ organised by the Pakistan Rae Aama Forum here on Thursday, he said participation of the general in uniform had made the elections controversial.

The government was preparing for the election of the general instead of general elections, he said.

He said Gen Pervez Musharraf had promised to take off his uniform by Dec 31, 2004, but he had not honoured his commitment. “The army claims to assume power on the invitation of the people, but why does it not return to the barracks on their demand?” he asked.

He said the opposition would not tolerate rigging in elections and launch a movement against the government. He said the opposition parties should put up consensus candidates on every seat instead of fielding individual ones.

Jamiat Ulema-i-Pakistan secretary-general Qari Zawwar Bahadar said fair polls were not possible without the appointment of an uncontroversial chief election commissioner and in the presence of a president who had failed to honour his commitment. He said political parties should boycott elections if held under the general in uniform. They should demand holding of the elections under an interim government.

Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaaf provincial president Javed Iqbal said thinking about fair elections under Gen Musharraf and the judiciary believing in the law of necessity was only a mad man’s dream.

He said the country had been plundered in the name of democracy, and the army was treating the people like a herd of sheep.

Muttahida Qaumi Movement Senator Tahi Mashhadi said transparent polls were not possible as long as the Election Commission remained under the government control. He said the candidates should be barred from setting up camps outside the polling stations and providing transport to the voters, to make the election process less expensive.

He said the military government weakened the political process and created problems instead of solving the same. He said an overwhelming majority of the people had stopped taking interest in politics owing to the monopoly of two per cent population on it.

MNA Rana Mahmoodul Hasan said good rules and regulations had been framed for fair elections, but these were not implemented owing to the partiality of the state apparatus.