I don't aspire to be PM again: Sharif

Making it clear that he does aspire to become prime minister again, former premier Nawaz Sharif has said that political parties should form a united front to abstain from the upcoming general elections as there is no other way to end the 'dictatorship' in Pakistan.

Sharif, who had on Monday joined hands with his political rival and Pakistan People's Party leader Benazir Bhutto to set conditions for free and fair polls, addressed supporters of his PML-N party at several places in the North West Frontier Province on Tuesday.

All political parties should form a united front to abstain from the polls as there is no other way to end the 'dictatorship,' he said.

"Rigging in the elections is certain and fair polls cannot be held in the present situation," Sharif added.

Addressing lawyers and the public at the district court in Haripur, Sharif urged people to join hands with him in the struggle to ensure the integrity of Pakistan and the restoration of the constitution and pre-emergency judiciary.

The former premier also said he would work to unite opposition parties to boycott the polls and to strengthen democracy and rule of law in the country.

Sharif, whose nomination papers for the polls were rejected on Monday by election officials, said he was not campaigning for votes and did not aspire to become prime minister.

He said he did not trust the current judiciary, which owed allegiance to President Pervez Musharraf and demanded the reinstatement of deposed judges.

The PML-N chief also addressed the public and reporters in Manshera and Abbottabad, where he said his decision to boycott the polls was made before the rejection of his nomination papers.

"I have a promise to the entire nation that I will restore the judiciary and if the people give me their support, I will make sacrifices in order to get out of the current crisis."

Meanwhile, an eight-member committee formed by Bhutto and Sharif met in the capital on Tuesday to frame a charter of demands to ensure free and fair polls. The two leaders have threatened to boycott the January 8 polls if their conditions are not met.

At the same time, the PML-N decided to play it safe by taking steps to prepare for the possibility of participating in the polls. The party's parliamentary board met in Islamabad for the first time since Sharif's return and selected over 200 candidates from Sindh, Balochistan and North West Frontier Province for the election.

The parliamentary board met under the chairmanship of Sharif's brother Shahbaz. The meeting was attended by senior party leaders like Raja Zafarul Haq, Javed Hashmi, Ahsan Iqbal and Zafar Iqbal Jhagra.

Iqbal, the PML-N spokesman, said the meeting interviewed candidates who had applied for tickets.

"The interviews are a part of the PML-N's homework in case the major parties decide to participate in the election on the acceptance of the charter of demands," he said.