PML-N retracts poll boycott decision

ISLAMABAD—Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) has decided to take part in the elections, which will be held on January 8. The decision was taken after Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) decided to take part in the elections in a press conference at Naudero.
Earlier, The party of Pakistan opposition leader Nawaz Sharif said Sunday it would “review” its boycott of next month’s elections if Benazir Bhutto’s party decides to take part. “If the PPP decides to contest the elections, then we will review our decision whether to contest or continue to boycott,” Sharif spokesman Ahsan Iqbal said.
“We announced the boycott after the assassination of Benazir Bhutto to send a message of solidarity and express our sympathy towards her party and the people of her home province,” Iqbal said. The party of Pakistan opposition leader Nawaz Sharif said Sunday it would “review” its boycott of next month’s elections if Benazir Bhutto’s party decides to take part. Amir Jamaat-e-Islami Qazi Hussain Ahmed on Sunday strongly condemning the assassination of former Premier Benazir Bhutto blamed that it was due to security lapse. While talking to Journalists on Sunday, Amir Jamaat-e-Islami Qazi Hussain Ahmed has held Pervez Musharraf responsible urging to hold general elections under impartial Caretakers and an Independent Election Commission.
The martyrdom of BB would have negative impact internally and externally as Pakistan has lost a popular leader of a big party, he maintained. The Government, Qazi said has failed to provide protection to the leaders even to the former Prime Minister. He further refuted all claims of the Government adding that it is using negative tactics in a bid to divert the investigation process.
Central leader Jamiat-e-Ulema Islam (JUI) Maulana Muhammad Amjad Khan Sunday suggested the postponement of the next general elections. While talking to newsmsmen here, he said that law and order situation is not conducive in the country to hold elections.
JUI will decide its strategy about the next general elections in a meeting of MMA to be held soon, he said adding JUI chief Maulana Fazal Rehman is in contact with all the political leaders in this regard. To a question, he said that JUI has suspendeded its election campaign due to the assassination of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto.
To another question, Maulana Amjad said that the inquiry into the Rawalpindi incident should be held according to the demands of the PPP.
“If the PPP decides to contest the elections, then we will review our decision whether to contest or continue to boycott,” Sharif spokesman Ahsan Iqbal said. “We announced the boycott after the assassination of Benazir Bhutto to send a message of solidarity and express our sympathy towards her party and the people of her home province,” Iqbal said. “Otherwise, we were going to take part,” he said. “If the victim does not complain, then why should the witnesses worry?”.
Central leader of Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz), Engr. Iqbal Zafar Jhagra has rejected the resignation of president of Lawyer’s Wing of the party, Advocate Abdul Sattar. In a press statement issued here on Sunday, the PML(N) leader, Zafar Iqbal Jhagra has directed Advocate Abdul Sattar to continue work in his capacity for the better interest of the party.
It merits a mention here that Advocate Abdul Sattar had resigned from his post after withdrawing his nomination papers from NA:2 constituency. Advocate Abdul Sattar was the candidate of PML(N) for NA:2, but had withdrew his paper due to the decision of lawyers community of boycotting the January 8 elections.
In the resignation, Advocate Abdul Sattar justified that being a professional lawyer he has to support the decision of lawyer’s community and therefore he is resigning from the party’s post for acting against the directives of party leadership. However, Engr Iabal Zafar Jhagra has not accepted the resignation of Advocate Abdul Sattar and directed him to continue his work for the cause of independent judiciary and democracy in the country.—Online