Nawaz Sharif demands early general elections in Pakistan

The Pakistan Muslim League N chief Nawaz Sharif on Wednesday demanded early general elections, saying the country's problems would increase as long as the Pakistan Peoples Party-led government remains in office.

"As long as this government remains, Pakistan's problems will continue increasing. As soon as this government orders fresh elections, it will be better for everyone, including the government," the former premier said during an interaction with reporters in Islamabad on Wednesday afternoon.

The next general election is scheduled for early 2013 but the PML-N and several other parties have demanded that the polls should be held later this year.

Speaking on the sidelines of a function at which former PPP leader Enver Baig was inducted into the PML-N, Sharif said the people are not ready to tolerate the government any longer as new corruption scandals were being uncovered almost every day.

At the same time, he said, the PML-N and all other parties would wholeheartedly support the government if it took any good steps or framed a good policy.

"But if it takes any wrong steps, we will oppose it," he said.

Responding to a question regarding the alleged memo that had sought US help to stave off a feared coup in Pakistan last year, Sharif said he had not backed off from the issues as he was the one who had approached the Supreme Court to investigate the scandal.

Sharif further said he had sent a legal notice banker Younis Habib for alleging that he had received a pay-off from the ISI in the 1990s.

Habib has testified in the apex court that he arranged Rs 1.48 billion for the military, and about Rs 400 million was distributed among politicians linked to the army-backed Islami Jamhoori Ittehad in a bid to prevent the PPP from coming to power in the 1990 general election.

In response to another question, Sharif said he had informed US Ambassador Cameron Munter of his concerns regarding the transportation of NATO supplies to Afghanistan via Pakistan and drone attacks on Pakistani soil.

The US should understand Pakistan's concerns on drone attacks, Sharif said.

Pakistan wants to move along with the world community, which should appreciate the country's concerns, he added.