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Benazir, Sharif join hands for polls

B. Muralidhar Reddy

ISLAMABAD: The former Prime Ministers of Pakistan who are in exile, Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif, have joined hands to decide their strategy for the 2007 general elections.

At a meeting in London late on Monday, they called for free and fair elections through an interim government of national consensus under an independent and autonomous Election Commission open to all political parties and political leaders.

Implied in the joint statement issued at the end of the two-hour meeting at Mr. Sharif's residence was the demand that they be not only allowed to return to Pakistan but also be permitted to lead their respective parties in the election.

A joint statement said the two leaders had expressed deep concern over the deteriorating political and worsening economic situation in the country.

The statement said the two leaders called for the release of political prisoners including the former Speaker of the National Assembly, Syed Yousaf Reza Gilani, acting Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) president Makhdoom Javed Hashmi and others.

They also expressed concern over the social deprivation of the people and condemned increasing terrorism in society.

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