Sharif says to participate in general Pakistani elections

www.chinaview.cn 2007-12-31 21:28:37 Print

Special report: Benazir Bhutto assassinated

ISLAMABAD, Dec. 31 (Xinhua) --

Former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Monday withdrew his decision of elections boycott and said his party would take part in the polls.

"We had decided to boycott the elections to express solidarity with the Pakistan People's Party (PPP) and the people of Sindh but they appealed to us to take part in the elections. Our party considered the appeal and after consultations we have decided to contest the elections," Sharif said, quoted by the News Network International (NNI) news agency.

Sharif boycotted the elections after the assassination of Benazir Bhutto, former prime minister and Chairperson of PPP, to express solidarity with her party.

Bhutto's husband Asif Ali Zardari on Sunday was appointed co-chairman of PPP and appealed to the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz chief Nawaz Sharif to review its polls boycott decision.

"Despite concerns of rigging, we will take part in elections," Sharif said. He said he wanted elections to be held on Jan. 8 but the Muslim League-Quaid party was trying to postpone the elections.

Sharif expressed serious concern over what he described as the worst chaos in the country and said, "There is no law and order in my country."

The Election Commission of Pakistan is expected to make a final decision on whether to hold the general elections as schedule on Jan. 8.

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