PML-N Quaid Nawaz Sharif called on Pervez Musharraf to step down after his allies conceded defeat in the elections.
"Musharraf has said he would quit when people tell him. People have now given their verdict," he said. Nawaz Sharif said he is prepared to accept the elected PML-Q parliamentarians but the Chaudhry brothers were not welcome.
Addressing a press conference at his Model Town residence here on Tuesday, he reiterated the commitment to continue his struggle for the restoration of the sacked judiciary to the pre-November 3 position. He thanked the people for supporting him. Ishaq Dar and other leaders of the party were also present on the occasion.
Nawaz said the struggle for the restoration of democracy and judiciary as enshrined in the PML-N charter would continue. He said a meeting would be held with PPP co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari on Thursday to discuss the post-election scenario.
Nawaz said he would consult all other political parties to evolve the future strategy. He lauded the media role and congratulated the winning parties. He said the PML-N would adopt a conciliatory approach towards other parties and appreciate every good gesture in the larger interest of the country.
He said a meeting of the party with other political parties was being held in Islamabad on Thursday in which the future action plan would be discussed. He said the PML-N contested the elections in adverse circumstances, braving all kinds of pressures and harassing tactics from the government machinery.
About rigging, he said it was started with rejection of his and Shahbaz Sharif’s nomination papers to discourage the party workers and that the results of their candidates were changed. He said one of his candidates was winning during the night but the next morning he was declared defeated by 12 votes.
Nawaz also praised the spirit of the nation during the election process. He expressed the hope that the winning candidates of his party would bring the country out of the shadows of dictatorship, steering it on the path of democracy.
He praised the positive and effective media role despite difficult circumstances and restrictions. He said the main agenda of his party was the complete freedom of media, restoration of judiciary, and rule of law, supremacy of parliament and of the Constitution.
He said the PML-N had its own manifesto and they were prepared to cooperate with every political party for the achievement of its objectives. He said the option of a coalition government at federal and provincial levels would be discussed with other parties. He said they would review all unconstitutional and illegal acts like removal of judges, issuance of both of the Provisional Constitution Order (PCO) and Pemra regulations. He endorsed Asif Ali Zardari’s demand for release of arrested lawyers.
To a question, he said the judiciary after its restoration would decide the case of President Musharraf’s candidature for contesting the presidential election. To a question, he said he expected nothing else from the military generals but to obey the Constitution.
About nuclear scientist Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan, he said: "We would look into the matter and find out on what grounds he has been punished." Agencies add: Nawaz Sharif said the elected representatives from other factions of the PML would be welcome if they show interest in rejoining their parent-party.
"The PML-N was given the most difficult circumstances to contest the general elections, all types of pressure and negative tactics were used against the party to keep it away from success. Several actions were taken one after another which we are facing till today," he said.
"We will work with all democratic forces, all those who secured victory. I want to congratulate them and those who participated as opposition parties," he said. "I invite them all to come and sit together to rid Pakistan of dictatorship forever.” He said he had also asked the leader of the nationalist Awami National Party, which secured several seats in NWFP.