Lahore, Nov 17: The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has urged Pakistan People’s Party chairperson Benazir Bhutto to delay the all-party conference (APC) of November 21, and asked her to clarify her position on the four issues raised by former premier Nawaz Sharif.

Sharif has asked Benazir to demand the reinstatement of deposed Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry and other judges, restoration of the Constitution as it was in October 1999, withdrawal of the Provisional Constitutional Order (PCO), lifting of the state of emergency, complete press freedom and free and fair elections under an independent and effective Election Commission, before expecting the PML-N to participate in the conference.

PML-N chairman Raja Zafrul Haq told Dawn on Friday that the two former prime ministers had held a two-hour telephone conversation.

“And unless the PML-N’s questions are replied satisfactorily, the party will not attend the APC,” he said.

The PPP and the PML-N were part of the Alliance for the Restoration of Democracy (ARD) for about seven years, parted company in July when the PML-N decided to form a new alliance — the All Parties Democratic Movement (APDM) — which the PPP did not join because of its reservations about religious parties being its components.

Zafar said US Assistant Secretary of State John Negroponte was in Islamabad and reportedly he would try to resolve differences between President General Pervez Musharraf and Benazir, adding that if she agrees to work with the military leader it would put the other parties, who decided to take part in APC, in an embarrassing position.

The PML-N would not accept any decision of the present Supreme Court on eligibility Musharraf for the office of president for another term. (ANI)