Opposition mulls election boycott
By Asim Hussain

ISLAMABAD—Former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, leader of Pakistan Peoples Party Amin Fahim and President Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA) Qazi Hussain Ahmed have held telephonic conversations in which the issue of boycotting of next general elections was discussed.
According to a private TV Channel, the issue of boycotting of next general elections was on top in the talks held on Wednesday among the three leaders.
President Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA) Qazi Hussain Ahmed suggested to Amin Fahim that there is need of a joint strategy by the opposition parties and the decision regarding the boycotting of the elections should be taken in between the dates of receiving of the nomination papers.
He said that the decision regarding the boycotting of the elections should be taken on the time of withdrawing of the nomination papers. Amin Faheem told MMA President that he would talk with Chairperson of the party Benazir Bhutto in this regard.
Nawaz Sharif also emphasized the early decision regarding the boycotting of the elections as in the current situation, the participation in the next general elections is not in the interest of the political parities.
All the three leaders agreed that other leaders would also be consulted aiming to make progress on the matter of boycotting of the elections.
Indian high commissioner in Pakistan Seeta Parata Pall and British political secretary held separate meetings with M MA general secretary Maulana Fazlur Rehman in parliament lodges and exchanged views on political situation of the country and difficulties facing the political parties following the proclamation of emergency rule.
Maulana Fazlur Rehman apprised Indian high commissioner and British political secretary of MMA stance saying imposition of emergency rule and Provisional Constitutional Order (PCO) had led the country to political instability and crisis like situation. In the prevailing circumstance, possibility of holding elections in fair and transparent manner stands ruled out, he added. Therefore, MMA is considering to boycott the elections. But MMA supreme council will take the final decision on this count.
Later talking to the journalists Maulana Fazlur Rehman alleged president Musharraf had suppressed the freedom of judiciary and the treatment being meted out to the judges was very alarming for the country, he added. Country is persistently heading towards crisis, he cautioned.
He went on to say MMA supreme council would decide to participate in the elections or otherwise in the presence of emergency. There should be democratic process in place in the country and all the political parties be allowed level playing field, he demanded. “We are struggling for full fledged and undiluted democracy”, he remarked.