Nawaz demands polls under interim set-up

17 Aug, 2006

Former Prime Minster Nawaz Sahrif has said that free, fair and transparent elections under 'dictator rule' seem to be a joke, saying that elections should be held under neutral set-up. In an interview with a private TV he said that engineered elections would further spoil situation in the country.
He said the era of failures, disrupts and disappointment has taken roots during the rule of Musharraf. To a query he said transparent elections do not suit Musharraf as he is running elections campaign for his people and has become a party himself. The election commission should take notice of it, he added.
About his return to Pakistan, he said if elections were held sans Musharraf, he would defiantly come back to Pakistan, as it was his motherland. To another question, former Prime Minister said the military had become a personnel estate of Musharraf. He is using the military for his personal agenda. The military should respect its oath, law and above all, the Constitution of Pakistan, he added.
Regarding government preparations for next general elections, Nawaz Sharif alleged that Musharraf government has already started rigging for the next elections. A clear example of the pre-polls rigging, he said, is preparations of new identity cards. About Kargil, Nawaz Sharif said he had been misled regarding Kargil and had already demanded formation of an inquiry commission to unearth facts about Kargil.
Nawaz Sharif said every thing would be crystal clear if commission would be constituted. About snaps shown by Musharraf to media about Kargil, Nawaz Sharif said that snaps were misleading and he visited those areas when Musharraf just took over command of the army.
The former Prime Minister said he respected military because it was his duty to uphold honour of the Pakistan Army yet Musharraf rewarded him in shape of jails, handcuff and death sentence, But Allah Almighty saved him as there is a proverb "Man purposes, God disposes".

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