Nawaz Sharif on Polls: Boycott Option Depends on Govt. Stance     
‘Pakistan Times’ Political Desk

LAHORE: Pakistan’s ex-Prime Minister Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif said Monday that the opposition should use the option of boycotting the general elections in case a level playing field is not provided to it in the electioneering process. He was addressing a press conference at his Model Town residence here on Monday.

Former Punjab chief minister Mian Shahbaz Sharif and PML-N leader Saranjam Khan were also present.Nawaz Sharif said the opposition do not want to indulge in any confrontation or to boycott the polls, but it will be left with no other option if it is pushed to the wall.

“We believe in reconciliation and Pakistan’s welfare, not in confrontation; the people at the helm of affairs need to understand the feelings of the people and act according to their aspirations to remove emergency and restore the rule of law in the country,” he said.

He demanded lifting of the emergency, restoration of the constitution and reinstatement of the judiciary as it was before November 3 and said that the judicial setup prior to the emergency be allowed to decide the matter of the presidential election.

Nawaz Sharif said that he would try to convince all the opposition parties to boycott the upcoming general elections.He expressed his unwillingness to become a Prime Minister in the presence of 17th Amendment of the Constitution. "The present set up has been made only to ensure benefit to one political party and therefore the opposition should not compromise with the present situation", he observed.

He said the entire opposition would have to join hands if it is in favor of boycotting the general elections. “This is a serious matter, we do not want violence and riots, all we want is the well being and betterment of the country,” Nawaz Sharif said. Responding to a question, Mian Nawaz Sharif said the PML-N and PML-Q have parted ways forever.

However, PML-Q supporters who have not been involved in damaging the PML-N or maligning its leaders, can be considered for taking back in the party fold and this will be decided on a case to case basis, he added. He said the world powers need to consider that terrorism and extremism can be tackled better with the power of the people and not by strengthening the rule of one individual.

Nawaz Sharif demanded that restrictions on media should be removed forthwith to ensure peoples’ right of free expression. The PML-N chief praised the struggle of lawyers’ community and said that they have always been in the forefront to strengthen the national institutions. He expressed appreciation for the positive attitude of the Saudi kingdom towards Pakistan and its people, and remarked that on personal level he would for ever be indebted to them for their supportand help.

An earlier report had said that Pakistan's ex-Prime Minister and PML (N) chief Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif Monday called for restoration of democracy and the rule of law in the country. A meeting of All Parties Democratic Movement (APDM) will be held on Nov. 29 and before that the other parties will be convinced for boycott of the election, he said. “The opposition is not solely responsible for maintenance of peace but the government also holds the responsibility”, Sharif said.

“We want peaceful elections not disturbances”, he said. An earlier report had said that Mian Nawaz Sharif has rejected the reports that he had retuned to Pakistan as a result of deal with government and said; “I have deal with people but no deal with government.” He stated this while addressing his reception gathering at Data Darbar where he arrived after 11 eleven hours of traveling from the Lahore airport. Nawaz Sharif accompanied by his wife Mrs. Kulsoom Nawaz and former Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif paid visit to Data Darbar as they arrived here after their seven years of exile.

"Together we will restore democracy," Sharif told supporters from the top of a lorry after stopping at one of the city's main markets. "It is time for a decisive battle,” he remarked. A special security cavalcade was appointed to accompany Sharifs from the airport to Data Sahab and from Data Sahab to Raiwind. The Sharifs reached Data Darbar via Chungi Dogage, Rangers Headquarters, Joray Pul, Sadr Gole Chakar, Dharampura, Garhi Shahu, Allama Iqbal Road and Shah Alami.

After paying respects to the great saint and spiritualist of all times at Hazrat Data Gunj Bukhsh (RA), they left for Raiwind. Meanwhile, another report says that Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) Chief Mian Nawaz Sharif has filed his nomination papers to take part in the general elections scheduled to be held on January 8. . ●