I won't let eight years' work go waste: Musharraf

Islamabad, Aug 28: As the presidential election nears in Pakistan, incumbent Pervez Musharraf has said that he would not let his eight years of hard work of turning the country into a prosperous nation go to waste.

At a meeting with Railway Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed, Musharraf said he was in contact with all political parties, including Benazir Bhutto"s Pakistan People"s Party (PPP), to bring political stability in the country.

According to sources, Musharraf told Ahmed that his every action was taken in the national interest so that the country remains on the track of development.

During the hour-long meeting, they discussed the possible return of the Sharif brothers to Pakistan, general elections, ongoing negotiations with former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto and opinions of various Pakistan Muslim League members about the presidential elections.

Musharraf reiterated that he would be re-elected by the present assemblies and would resolve the uniform issue in accordance with the law and the Constitution.

“The opposition will also get an answer in this respect soon," the Daily Times quoted Musharraf as saying, adding that the constitution allowed him to remain in uniform by the end of this year.

Sources quoted Musharraf as stressing the need for unity between the PML and its coalition parties, saying they should solve their differences with mutual understanding instead of promoting them in the media.

On the return of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his brother Shahbaz Sharif to Pakistan, Musharraf said that they should abide by the accord they had made with Saudi Arabia.

Commenting on the forthcoming general elections, he assured that the polls would be held in a free, fair and transparent way.

ANI >