Lahore: Blaming President Pervez Musharraf for running down the country, former Pakistan premier Nawaz Sharif on Monday demanded his resignation and renewed call for the formation of a government of national consensus to ensure free and fair general elections on January 8 as scheduled.
Musharraf is the root cause of all problems in Pakistan and the country would be 'doomed' if he did not step down, Sharif said.
Sharif, who said his PML-N party had reversed its decision to boycott the upcoming general election as a mark of solidarity for assassinated premier Benazir Bhutto, reiterated that he would not work with Musharraf in any future government.
"Free and fair elections cannot be held under Musharraf," he told a press conference. "We will contest the elections despite reservations (about rigging)."
Asked if he would consider working with Musharraf if the PML-N came to power, Sharif shot back saying, "This is the man guilty of abrogating and subverting the constitution and the law of land, this is the man guilty of unconstitutionally removing the judiciary from the Supreme Court and the High Court.
"You want me to work with such a man? I think the nation needs to get rid of this man, I think I would be antagonizing the people if I were to work with this man."
The PML-N, he said, had three demands -- Musharraf should quit, a government of national consensus should be formed and free and fair polls should be held.
Sharif also vowed to work for reinstating the judges of the superior judiciary who were sacked for not endorsing the emergency imposed by Musharraf last month.
Accusing the President of trying to delay the polls, he said the PML-N wants the election to be held on January 8. The PML-Q, the party that backs Musharraf, would be wiped out if transparent elections are held, Sharif said.
"All PML-N candidates will take an oath to reinstate the deposed judges and to end the military's role in politics," he added.
Sharif, who was deposed by Musharraf in a military coup in 1999, returned to Pakistan from exile last month to lead his party into the elections. He has been insisting that Musharraf, who doffed his uniform and took oath for a second presidential term as a civilian, should step down to ensure free and fair polls.
"Dictatorship has been playing with democracy for the last eight years. Dictatorship has always harmed the country," Sharif said.
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"Dictatorship has set this country on fire, thousands are being killed in military operations. Why are the (army) generals inflicting so many wounds?
"We (politicians) dress these wounds and they inflict more wounds. This was the reason for the country's dismemberment in 1971," he said, referring to the creation of Bangladesh from the erstwhile East Pakistan.
Sharif said he had withdrawn his decision to boycott the polls on the insistence of Bhutto's Pakistan People's Party. Bhutto's husband Asif Ali Zardari, who was named PPP's co-chairman, had urged Sharif to participate in the polls.
Asked about the probe into Bhutto's killing, Sharif said. "It is too early to blame anyone for Mohtarma Bhutto's death." He described her assassination as a "major national tragedy" and said political parties should focus on the solidarity of the country.
"We will work with all democratic forces that want to establish democracy and end dictatorship. We are fighting a battle on behalf of the people and even if I am not participating in the polls, we will win this fight," Sharif said, referring to the rejection of his nomination papers by the Elect ion Commission because of his conviction on charges of terrorism in 2000.
Sharif also said his party did not want foreign countries "to interfere in Pakistan's internal affairs".
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