Islamabad, July 22: Pakistan's deposed Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has accused President Pervez Musharraf of aiming to "abolish the role and existence" of political parties and said his party would contest the October elections. "Musharraf and General Tanveer Naqvi are bent to eliminate the federal parliamentary system and the people's right of rule through the proposed constitutional amendments and want a military role in politics," Sharif was quoted by his former political secretary Mushtaq Ali Tahirkheli in 'the nation' published today.

The ousted premier, according to his aide, ruled out reports that Pakistan Muslim Leage (Nawaz) would not enter the political arena and pledged to contest the upcoming elections.

Tahirkheli, the paper said, had had a telephonic conversation with Sharif, who was exiled to Jeddah in saudi Arabia two years ago as part of a reported political settlement with the Pervez Musharraf regime.
Bureau Report