News
Saturday, August 11, 2012
PM invites opp to settle issues for holding elections* Raja says govt is making preparations for upcoming elections with all sincerity
* PPP confident of its political future
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf on Friday invited opposition to sit with the government and settle issues for holding of free, fair and transparent elections.
Addressing workers of Pakistan People’s Party at an iftar-cum-dinner at the Prime Minister’s House, he said, "Instead of levelling allegations and disfiguring faces of each other, we should sit together and resolve issues as was done in the case of appointment of the chief election commissioner."
He said people would decide fate of political parties in the elections and whatever decision they would make, it would be the right verdict.
"We depend on the people and they are with the Pakistan People’s Party." He expressed confidence that the PPP would emerge victorious in the next elections. He said next elections would be held in a free, fair and transparent manner. He said the time for elections was near and the PPP and its workers were ready to participate.
"Election is the field of PPP and we are always ready for it," he added.
He said the PPP-led government was making preparations for the elections with all sincerity. He said PPP Co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari had instructed leaders and workers of PPP to contact people in their areas and resolve their problems.
He underscored the need for healthy politics, saying everybody should shun character assassination, abusive language and fighting in politics.
The Prime Minister said PPP was confident of its political future as it had served the people in its four-year rule.
When the PPP and its allies formed the government in 2008, there was shortage of flour but now due to its policy the country has achieved food security, he added.
Salaries and pensions were increased and the government stood together and flag of Pakistan was hoisted again after it was taken down by terrorists, he added.
He said despite all the mudslinging, media trials and propaganda, people were still connected to the PPP and they had a romance with the philosophy of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Benazir Bhutto.
The prime minister said the PPP had a history of unprecedented sacrifices and Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Benazir Bhutto embraced martyrdom for the rights of people and democracy.
Raja said the PPP was removed from power through conspiracies and its detractors were surprised when it made a come back with the support of people even after the suppression at the hands of dictators.
According to the petition filed by Asghar Khan in Supreme Court, money was distributed among political leaders to defeat the PPP in elections, he reminded.
The PPP won elections in Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan and by-elections in various parts of the country, he added.
The prime minister said the PPP aimed at giving self-respect to people. He advised political parties to put their manifestoes before people without getting into conflict with each other so they could serve the country, if people decide in their favour in the polls.
He said he met PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari who in a message urged the party workers to work for progress of Pakistan.
Referring to his recent visit to Sindh, he said Pakistan has big reservoirs of coal in Thar, from which high quality diesel could be produced. app
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk