PML-N and PPPP threaten movement against Musharraf

The Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz PML-N) and the Pakistan People's Party Parliamentarians (PPPP) plans to take to streets along other Opposition parties, boycotting the elections if Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif wouldn't allowed to return and be part of the electoral process.
Talking to Business Recorder, the Alliance for Restoration of Democracy (ARD) Secretary General Zafar Iqbal Jhagra said that both leaders at their recent meeting had reaffirmed their resolve to stage comeback and stay away from the polls in case they could not take part in them.
"It is almost impossible for the rulers to force a ban on these two popular leaders. However, the ARD with the support of other Opposition parties will devise a strategy accordingly, as sans the two leaders' participation, the polls will be meaningless," he maintained.
The ARD leader said the Opposition parties would have to act with prudence if the elections are held minus Bhutto and Sharif. "The country can't afford rigged elections. We will create a situation, wherein elections will not be held, denying a walkover to Musharraf and his associates," he argued.
Jhagra, who is also PML(N) secretary general, said that joint Opposition would have to take a consensus decision to launch an anti-Musharraf movement to pave way for the return of true democracy.
He flayed President General Pervez Musharraf for his 'indulgence' in political matters and patronisation of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League (PML), saying by his actions, Musharraf never looked like the president of Pakistan, but head of a political party.
About Friday's meeting, chaired by President Musharraf, the ARD leader said that it vindicated their stance that in the presence of Musharraf, elections would not be free, fair, and transparent. "If you bar leaders of opposition parties from using their constitutional and political rights, how can you claim to be furthering the cause of democracy and constitution," he wondered.
He contended that the elections would be duly acknowledged as free, fair and transparent only if the government and its agencies provided a level-playing-field to all the stakeholders. Jhagra described the President presiding over the ruling PML and its leaders meeting and the decision not to permit both exiled leaders to return, as a glaring instance of pre-poll rigging.