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Tuesday, Jan 01, 2008
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Sharif: we are in the race

Nirupama Subramanian

ISLAMABAD: The former Prime Minister, Nawaz Sharif, on Monday said his Pakistan Muslim League (N) was back in the election race despite misgivings whether free and fair elections were at all possible under President Pervez Musharraf.

Speaking to journalists in Lahore, Mr. Sharif said the party had taken the decision at the request of Asif Zardari, husband of the slain Pakistan People’s Party leader Benazir Bhutto, who on Sunday took de facto control of the PPP, while his son Bilawal Bhutto Zardari was anointed as his mother’s formal successor.

“We cannot abandon the PPP and the people of Sindh at this juncture. All provinces and parties must play their role and fulfil their responsibility,” Mr. Sharif said.

But, he said, his party had no confidence that the polls would be transparent, free or fair as long as President Musharraf remained in office.

He demanded that General (retd.) Musharraf step down and that a neutral government of national unity take over and conduct the elections.

“This is the only solution for Pakistan.”

Mr. Sharif said the country was paying “too heavy a price for the boneheaded actions” of General Musharraf, and said he alone was responsible for the present chaos.

“These are the gloomiest days for Pakistan. Such are the wages of dictatorship. People have lost hope,” he said.

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