QUETTA: Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) chief Nawaz Sharif said here on Friday that elections must be held on time and warned that “any attempt to postpone them will pose a serious threat to the country”.

He was talking to reporters at Quetta airport after returning from Anjira, the village of Sardar Sanaullah Zehri, president of the PML-N’s Balochistan chapter, where he had gone to offer condolences to him on the death of his son, brother, and nephew who had been killed been in a recent bomb attack on the election convoy of the Sardar.

“Election is the only way to take the country out of the serious crisis it is facing,” Mr Sharif said, adding that it was a tradition in (democratic) countries to seek fresh mandate from the people in the event of a crisis.

“A strong elected government will be able to resolve the issues of Balochistan which call for immediate attention for an amicable solution.”

He appreciated participation of (nationalist) political parties in the elections and said a strong elected government would bring about a positive change in Balochistan.

Answering a question, he said it was the responsibility of the caretaker government, administration and law-enforcement agencies to foil any attempt to sabotage the election process in Balochistan.

About the perceived special treatment given by the government to retired General Pervez Musharraf, he said no-one should be given preferential treatment because under the constitution and law every citizen had equal rights and should be treated equally, irrespective of his influence and stature.

He said it was a matter of grave concern that after the court had cancelled his bail, police shifted Gen Musharraf to his farmhouse instated of arresting him.

He urged the inspector general of Islamabad police to explain why Gen Musharraf was sent home and not arrested.” It is an insult to judiciary.”

“Nobody should be allowed to play with the law because no-one is above the law,” Mr Sharif said, adding that the military dictator had destroyed the country and should be held accountable for that.

Answering another question, the PML-N leader said his party had always been worried about the law and order situation and issues faced by Balochistan and raised its voice at different forums that normalcy should be restored and people’s grievancesshould be addressed.

With elections approaching, he said, the responsibility of law-enforcement agencies and the administration had increased manifold and they must ensure a peaceful and conducive environment.