Sharif demands Mush's resignation

PAKISTAN ON THE BOIL

Blaming President Pervez Musharraf for running down the country, former Pakistan premier Nawaz Sharif today 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 news conference here.