PML-N President, Shahbaz Sharif has characterised his party's decision to participate in the upcoming parliamentary elections as a choice 'between the devil and the deep sea'.
Addressing a press conference here on Thursday night, a day after his arrival from Lahore on a short visit, he claimed that the elections under the present set-up would be far from fair but despite this reservation, the party had no choice but to participate in the national elections.
Shahbaz said that he was using this proverb because if the party skips the election this would leave the field open for the rival PML-Q but at the same time the party has fears about the elections being flawed.
About Mian Nawaz Sharif's call for a government of national consensus, Shahbaz said the party feels that this would be best way to ensure the fairness and transparency of elections held under the supervision of the independent election commission headed by the recently retired Supreme Court Judge Justice Rana Bhagwandas.
He said that this would also pave the way for the APDM parties who have boycotted the February 18 polls to take part in the national elections, which in turn would give credence to the electoral process. He said that the country was passing through a critical period and hence national cohesion and unity was imperative.
Shahbaz described that the assassination of PPP Chairperson, Benazir Bhutto as 'a great national tragedy' and said in her the country has lost an outstanding national politician. He said that PML-N and PPP had not entered into any election alliance but had been in touch with each other on various political issues.
The PML-N President launched a blistering attack on PML-Q and accused it of using a parochial card in the aftermath of Benazir's murder. He blamed the current economy crisis including the shortage of essential commodities on the poor policies of the previous government.
He alleged that the former Punjab chief minister, Chaudhry Pervez Elahi has squandered millions of taxpayer's money on non-development projects such as purchasing helicopter, plane and constructing grandiose offices in Lahore and Murree. Defending his party's advertisements, he said these are about the poor performance of PML-Q government in the various sectors.
He said that his party had attempted to heal the wounds of the people of Sindh and the party chief was the first politician to visit the Rawalpindi Hospital on learning Benazir's death and the first as well to lay wreath on her grave in Naudero.
Admitting that PPP would gain sympathy votes, Shahbaz said his party would not grudge if PPP wins more seats in the upcoming elections. Responding to another question, he said Brigadier Niaz (Retd) was his old acquaintance who also happens to be a friend of President Pervez Musharraf. However, he denied that behind the scene dialogues have been initiated between his party and the powers to be.
Shahbaz said because of lull in electioneering due to Muharram, he came to London for his medical check-up and also showed media the doctor's report giving him a clean bill of health. He said he would be returning home by the weekend.
Responding to another question, the PML-N president said there had been three telephone calls between party chief Nawaz Sharif and the British Foreign Secretary David Miliband immediately after the assassination of Benazir Bhutto.
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