LAHORE, Nov 25: Chaudhry Shujaat Husain, president of the Pakistan Muslim League, says he did not expect Nawaz Sharif’s return to Pakistan before elections, although he always wanted him to be here along with PPP chairperson Benazir Bhutto for the sake of credibility of the electoral process.

He told this correspondent on Sunday he had been urging the authorities concerned to let both the former prime ministers return and take part in the polls.

He said Mr Sharif and Ms Bhutto would participate in the elections no matter what they said in public statements.

According to him, parties in the All Parties Democratic Movement would also take part in the January 8 elections “in the interest of the country”.

Chaudhry Shujaat said that with the participation of all major parties, the international community would not get a chance to question the credibility of the election process.

He said Mr Sharif should behave responsibly and, unlike Ms Bhutto, should not try to create problems for the government. The PML-N leader, he said, should “strictly adhere” to the code of conduct approved by the Election Commission.

According to him, the welcome accorded to Mr Sharif was ‘disappointing’ and the number of people welcoming him was far too low than the one attending Ms Bhuto’s reception.

He said his party’s vote-bank would not be affected by the PML-N. “We have a very solid vote-bank. Our candidates are stronger than those fielded by other parties,” Chaudhry Shujaat said.

“We are not afraid of them,” he said of the PML-N leadership.

Asked if there was any possibility of the PML striking any electoral adjustment with the PML-N, he said the matter could be looked into after the polls. At the moment, he said, the parties should take part in the elections and gauge their popularity among the masses.

Commenting on various demands of Mr Sharif, the PML chief said he would urge President Pervez Musharraf not to hold the election under emergency. But if the emergency was not lifted for some reason, his party would not object, he said.

He said he did not believe that Mr Sharif really supported the demand for restoration of the pre-Nov 3 judiciary.Chaudhry Shujaat said any delay in elections would not serve any party’s interests. “A demand for delaying the elections will be undemocratic”.