Former premier and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Nawaz Sharif on Monday said boycotting the January 8, 2008, elections was the only solution to the problems confronting the country and the nation and that he was trying to convince all the parties, including Benazir Bhutto's Pakistan People's Party, to boycott the polls.
He told reporters at a meet-the-press programme of the Lahore Press Club (LPC) here on Tuesday that the upcoming elections would be one sided because the programme of rigging had already been chalked out.
"If the elections are boycotted by all the parties with full force, there will be a very poor turnout which will be unacceptable for the whole world. The whole nation is raising its voice to end the dictatorship, reinstate the judiciary and free the media, and the PML-N with the cooperation of other parties will play a leading role for a true democracy, the independence of the judiciary and the media."
A confident and humble Sharif told the reporters at a jam-packed hall of the club that "We are waging a struggle for the people of Pakistan and if Benazir boycotts the elections, we will also do likewise with other parties of the APDM. We don't want to become part of illegal process and we are making efforts for a unanimous boycott of the polls by all the parties."
But, he said, if Ms Bhutto disagreed to the boycott option, he would try to reach the Parliament for waging a struggle for the rights of people of Pakistan. He advised the President Pervez Musharraf to think about Pakistan.
"If Musharraf rolls back all his steps and restore the position of November 2, the uncertainty prevailing in the country will finish automatically," he said. He also said that he had no personal enmity with Pervez Musharraf. "I am thinking about Pakistan and its people and striving for a neat and clean democracy where problems confronted to countrymen could be resolved at their doorsteps," he added.
He said President Musharraf, while imposing the emergency, had himself declared that the country was heading towards a failed state. "During his eight-year rule, Musharraf should have strive to save the country from becoming a failed state," he said.
Sharif who looked confident and relaxed, ruled out any possibility of talks with the Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid-e-Azam but said, "The PML-Q people are joining us in two three days. The elements supporting Musharraf have their vested interests."
He called for identifying terrorism and terrorists before taking any action. He said he and his party strongly condemned terror in all forms. He added that there was no room for terrorism in a democratic era. About the situation in Wana, Swat and other areas in the North West Frontier Province, he said Pakistan was facing complicated problems where governance was too difficult.
When asked about a statement by Ms Bhutto that if voted to power she would allow foreign forces to carry out operation in Pakistan, Sharif replied, "Taking action on foreign dictation is not acceptable."
He also mentioned about the Lal Masjid incident, saying the issue could have been handled tactfully but improper action was taken in which innocent girls also lost their lives. On another statement by Ms Bhutto that Sharif had returned home under NRO, he said party president had already challenged the Ordinance. "Therefore, their return is not result of any NRO or deal," he added.
He said that after his deportation on September 10 despite orders by the Supreme Court, he met King Abdullah and Prince Saud Al-Faisal and latter helped him return to the homeland. He added that President Musharraf in his visit to Saudi Arabia tried to stop his return.
He lauded the media for struggling for their independence and assured full cooperation in their just struggle. He added that the media had gained a struggle at its own because the government in the past and present one resisted against the media. He said there was a fake case registered against him and all the so-called accused had been acquitted.
He said a fake case was registered against him and no summon was issued against him. Former president Rafiq Tarar, Hamza Shahbaz and several PML-N workers including Shahbaz Haider, Muhammad Mehdi were also present.
Sharif reached the Press Club amid slogans of "Go Musharraf Go". Local journalists under the banner of PUJ had set up a hunger strike camp against the media restrictions. PUJ president Arif Hamid Bhatti in his speech complained to the party leader for failing to sit in the camp with the latter apologising. Club president Mohsin Gorraya said Sharif wanted to sit in the camp but he had taken him to the hall because of a heavy rush.
Talking to reporters at the residence of senior most judge of LHC Justice Khawaja Muhammad Sharif who refused to take oath under PCO, he said that country's situation would never improve despite putting off uniform by President Musharraf and the lifting of the emergency.
He said the situation could only be improved if President Musharraf rolled back his steps and reinstates the judiciary as on November 2. He said one person had sent the judiciary at home to prolong his rule.
He said he hope that the judges who had refused to take oath under PCO would be restored soon with honour and dignity. He said all these judges were still judges. Sharif who was accompanied by Rafiq Tarar and Shahbaz Sharif present a bouquet to Justice Sharif. He then visited the home of Justice Khalil ur Rehman Ramday and gave him a bouquet.
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