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Published 20 Dec, 2011 02:56pm

Nawaz asks govt to hold elections for saving democracy

KARACHI: Pakistan Mulim League-Nawaz (PML-N) chief Nawaz Sharif on Tuesday said that Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) should hold elections in the country to seek fresh mandate from masses to save democracy, DawnNews reported.

Talking to media representatives at a local hotel, he said PML-N would not support any undemocratic or unconstitutional step to destabilise the democracy.

“Pakistan is facing isolation. There is an urgent need to stop committing blunders,” said the party chief.

Sharif said any role for the Army in political affairs was totally unacceptable.

He said since the parliament failed to take decisions on issues of national importance, his party approached the Supreme Court on memo issue to ascertain the culprits behind the issue.

He regretted that the PPP did not accept PML-N’s offer to defeat designs of anti-democratic forces when it was possible.

“We will consider lowering income tax and import duty to 10 per cent to enhance revenue collection, check tax evasion and corruption,” said Sharif.

On energy generation, he said the country must generate power from its indigenous coal and gas reserves.

Answering a question, he said PML-N would decide at appropriate time to have electoral alliance with any party.

On Balochistan issue, he said “I see ray of hope in retrieving the situation in the province by holding dialogues, for which I have already met the Baloch leaders including Attaullah Maingal and would do so in future.”

Sharif also announced that his party would discuss its election manifesto on December 23. The party will incorporate the points about economic growth, resolution of energy crisis and jobs creation in its election manifesto, he added.

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