LAHORE – Demanding appointment of nonpartisan governors and replacement of Sindh election commission, PML-F chief Pir Pagara has expressed fears bloodshed could mar upcoming general elections.

“Free and fair elections are out of question in the presence of ‘political governors’ as they (govs) will support their respective parties,” he told the media at the residence of PML-F Punjab President Malik Ghulam Mustafa Khar on Friday when Chaudhry Zaheer and others announced joining his party.
“The Sindh election commissioner should be replaced as he has been defying the CEC orders,” the PML-F chief demanded. Pagara also pointed to ‘vote business’ in the upcoming polls, saying that big bucks would be used in the elections, particularly in Punjab and Sindh.
He reiterated appeal for the union of Muslim Leagues, saying that had all factions forged unity before 2008, the prime minister would be a leaguer. He said the Chaudhry brothers had been supporting unification efforts when they were in government and the PML-N also wanted the same. Pagara said his party would contest elections from all parts of the country. About MQM, he said he had forecast MQM’s sitting on the opposition benches before elections. Though he favoured early elections, he questioned whether the polls would bring about a change.  “The majority of old faces will get in the parliament again,” he said
About targeted killing in Karachi, he said that since police were plagued by criminals, no action was being taken against culprits. Speaking on the occasion, Khar hoped that the Pagara-led Muslim League will make people’s dream come true.