Click to play videoNew Delhi: Two former Pakistani prime ministers — Nawaz Sharif and Benazir Bhutto — came together against President Pervez Musharraf on Monday and claimed that two political alliances — ARD or All Regional Democratic and APDM or All Party Democratic Movement — have decided to boycott the general elections if the government doesn't meet their demands to ensure free and fair polls.
An eight-member committee of APDM and ARD parties was setup at the Monday night meeting between Sharif and Bhutto, which went on till midnight. Within two days, the committee will draw up a charter of demands to ensure free and fair polls.
The panel will also fix a cutoff date for the government to meet those demands. If the demands are not fulfilled, the two coalition will consider boycotting the polls.
"We will give a deadline to the government for those demands. We will boycott the elections if the demands are not met," Sharif told CNN-IBN on Monday night.
Asked about the cancellation of his nomination, Sharif called it a 'one-sided election'. "The bureauratic setup is favouring Musharraf and this is all a part of pre-poll rigging," he alleged.
During the meeting, it was decided to form a committee to In case the demands are not met, the parties will boycott the elections, go into agitation mode and will protest against the Musharraff regime, they said.
The meeting took place hours after Sharif's nomination papers were rejected by poll officials due to his conviction on terrorism charges in 2000.
The meeting was held at Bhutto's home in the capital.
The PML-N chief earlier on Monday said he will not challenge the rejection of his nomination papers by the returning officer in Lahore before judges owing allegiance to President Pervez Musharraf.
PML-N sources said the latest developments had strengthened Sharif's intention to go ahead with boycotting the polls.
After calling on visiting Turkish President Abdullah Gul, Sharif met leaders of the All Parties Democratic Movement, an Opposition alliance that includes the Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal, Tehreek-e-Insaaf, Awami National Party and several Baloch nationalist parties.
Sharif then went to Zardari House, Bhutto's home, with several PML-N and Jamaat-e-Islami leaders.
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