News
Thursday, March 17, 2011
PPP won’t destabilise Punjab government, says Zardari* President says PPP to play responsible opposition’s role in Punjab
* Democracy must not be allowed to be weakened
Staff Report
KARACHI: The Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) would not destabilise the Punjab government or undermine the broad based national reconciliation policy that the PPP adopted three years ago, President Asif Ali Zardari said on Wednesday.
Presidential spokesperson, Farhatullah Babar, quoted statements made by the president during a telephonic address from Bilawal House to Punjab PPP MPs. The PPP would play the role of a responsible opposition in Punjab, Zardari told the PPP MPs, who had gathered in the Governor’s House, Lahore, for the purpose. The president also advised the MPs to perform their duties “as a responsible and critical opposition, but not allow themselves to be provoked into saying or doing anything that militated against the spirit of democracy”, Farhatullah said.
The president said the people had restored democracy in the country after huge sacrifices. “The hard earned democracy must not be allowed to be weakened.”
Zardari said that it had been a practice in the past to divide political forces and parties and take advantage from the mutual bickering. “Democracy was undermined by undemocratic elements.” Zardari cautioned political forces against repeating the past. The president told the MPs that he was aware of difficulties faced by them in respect to continuing their development funds and project, after exit from the provincial government. He said that he would consult with the prime minister in order to constitute a committee of party MPs to look into their problems.
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk