"There is no time limit that the chief executive (Gen. Musharraf) has set for democratic elections...You measure time by events, and when these events have been completed, we are ready to launch the elections," he told the Washington Post. Khan made it clear that Sharif and his top aides would be "brought to justice" and that none of the politicians who "mismanaged" Pakistan would be allowed to rule the country again. He said Musharraf's objectives include making Pakistanis, who have held important posts, accountable for "a multitude of sins" such as unreturned bank loans, money laundering, illegal allotment of plots and "a witch's broth" of doubtful conduct.

Sharif, ousted in a bloodless coup on October 12 shortly after `sacking'Musharraf, currently faces serious treason charges that could lead to death penalty, while another former premier Benazir Bhutto is in self-exile in London.

Bhutto's husband, Asif Ali Zardari, is in Pakistani jail.

Khan expressed the hope that a reformed electoral system will supplant the old and "corrupt" one, and those who reigned over the "mismanagement" of Pakistan will be disqualified from running in future elections.

Another goal, he said "is to strengthen the hand of the press" and bring former officials of Sharif and his top aides to justice on "criminal charges" that include attempted murder of Musharraf and 200 people (by not allowing the plane carrying them to land in Karachi).

He said that judges and legal experts were working on ways "to validate" the acts that have been taken by the "new leadership."

"The constitution has been amended and it has to be modified to some extent. There has to be an act of validation by the supreme court for the actions that have been taken (by the militaryregime)." Khan said observers will be welcome to see various processes taking place in Pakistan. "Measure us with these objectives and the speed with which we move towards these objectives."