Mushahid hopes Opposition would not boycott elections
By Asim Hussain

ISLAMABAD—Pakistan Muslim League (PML) Secretary General Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed Wednesday said that the opposition parties would not boycott the upcoming general elections as it was their longstanding demand to hold them on time.“The opposition parties should acknowledge the fact that the next general elections are being held on time in line with the Constitution,” he said while addressing a news conference here.
Mushahid said the first meeting of the PML Central Parliamentary Board was held today under the chairmanship of party president Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain and it would meet for another two days to take decisions in respect of next general elections. Dilating upon the decisions taken during the meeting, he said the PML Sindh President has been authorized to hold negotiations with Muttahida Qaumi Movement and PML-F for seats adjustment in the province.
Similarly, the PML NWFP President has also been asked to talk with PPP (S) to make an election adjustment in the province, he said. The Senator said the PML provincial heads of Sindh, NWFP and Balochistan have presented their initial reports on the party position in their respective provinces.
Mushahid said PML would give proper attention to minority and women wing as both would play an important role to mobilize the people in favour of the party. Replying to a question, he said all the parties knew very well that the assemblies would complete their constitutional term on November 15 and elections would be held in next sixty days.
“I think all the parties have completed its homework for the elections and now it is quite inappropriate to raise objections on election schedule,” he said. To another question, he said PML would contest next elections on the basis of its performance in the office and it did not need any crutches of emergency. Answering a question, the Senator said if any political party has genuine reservation with regard to the election process it should be addressed.
Former PM, Shaukat Aziz also participated in the meeting in which all the four Provincial presidents of the Party briefed about the progress of their political endeavors. Elaborating further he said that all members presented their view point comprehensively, while specific review of the law and order situation in Provinces of NWFP and Balochistan was also undertaken.
The meeting, which would continue for two more days, decided that PML would interact closely with its political allies, and has granted all the powers to deal with political sources of Sindh to former CM, Arbab Ghulam Rahim, while the NWFP chapter has been authorized to NWFP Provincial president Ameer Muqam.