Pakistan's new balance of power

[mujahideen]

Sindh PPP losing candidates meeting today

ISLAMABAD: Sindh PPP national and provincial assemblies defeated candidates’ meeting has been called here today, while the Muslim League-N’s parliamentary meeting is being held in Punjab. PPP Co-Chairman, Asif Ali Zardari would be presiding over a meeting of the defeated national and provincial assemblies candidates from Sindh. On the other hand, ML-N Punjab parliamentary meeting is being held in Lahore for mulling over matters relating the formation of government.

Courtesy Geo

 

[mujahideen]

APDM ready to give time for judiciary restoration

ISLAMABAD: Amir Jamat-i-Islami, Qazi Hussain Ahmed Tuesday said APDM is ready to devote time for restoration of judiciary through parliament. Addressing a press conference along with Mehmood Khan Achakzai after the meeting of All Pakistan Democratic Movement (APDM) here, Qazi said: “We are willing to give time to the newly elected government for the restoration judiciary.” He said APDM has no intention to come in the way of Pakistan People’s Party and Pakistan Muslim League (N) agreement. Vowing to observe Judiciary Day on March 9, Qazi said, ‘We do not intend to launch any long march on March 9; we have not given time to the upcoming new government for the restoration of the judiciary.’ Qazi Hussain maintained the real cause behind terrorism in the country is being an ally of USA, which affords an opportunity to others. On this occasion, Mehmood Khan Achakzai declared to re-start their struggle if the deposed judges are not restored to their offices.

Courtesy Geo

 

[mujahideen]

24 independent MPAs join PML-N

YASIR HABIB KHAN

LAHORE - PML-N Quaid Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif has said that PPP and PML-N, have signed an agreement in black and white to reinstate judges including former Chief Justice of Pakistan Iftikhar Chaudhry after the formation of the govt.
‘Neither in the past nor present there has been a difference of opinion between us on the issue of judges and even on the exit of President Musharraf’, he expressed these views during a Press briefing held after the provincial Parliamentary party meeting at Model Town residence of the Sharifs.
He said that all the allied parties including ANP had called a joint Parliamentary party meeting on February 27 in Islamabad to prove their two-thirds majority with demand to summit session of National Assembly.
‘After showing two-thirds majority, there would be no justification to delay the session of National Assembly’, he said.
He pointed out that there was no justification to delay the session.
‘This is not the situation when the session was delayed for months to facilitate PML(Q) to make Zafarullah Jamali as Prime Minister in 2002. Things are different now and we have two-thirds majority’, he added.
On a query that PPP has soft corner for President Musharraf and wants his indemnity, he said that PPP-PML-N agreement did not suggest any such relaxation.
He called the controversy between PPP and PML-N on the issue as part of disinformation spread by the official circles.
He clarified that PPP Co-Chairperson Asif Ali Zardari had never stated that PPP was less interested in the impeachment of President Musharraf. He said that Asif Ali Zardari would make the issue more clear through his next statement.
Replying to another question, he said that following the humiliating defeat in February 18th polls ‘Q’ League announced to sit in Opposition but now it showed its readiness to talk with everyone.
‘But talk could only be held when other party was interested to do so’, he said in a sarcastic tone.
About the fate of PML-Q, he said that ‘Q’ League was never a party as ‘Q’ League is dead and about to be buried, he added.
Showing great optimism in the formation of next govt and its future, he said that coalition govt of PPP, PML-N and ANP would work in a befitting manner and give results, as hoped by the people.
He said that all the parties in this coalition agreed on public agenda to put the country on the path of progress and prosperity.
He said that all the elected parties were committed to resolve the long-standing issues of people.
He dispelled the impression that both PML-N and PPP were under US pressure to develop working relationship with President Musharraf.
He said that after the people’s verdict on Feb 18 Musharraf had no option but to step down.
He said that PML-N’s commitment with people got more stronger after the February 18th elections. ‘We are more committed with our agenda regarding restoration of judiciary, supremacy of rule of law and revival of 1973 Constitution in its true original shape’, he said.
He said that PML-N would harness all its energy and potential to live up to the expectations of the people.
He said that PML-N govt would address issues like price-hike, poverty, education, health, good governance, sovereignty of country and missing people.
These issues are at top priority as promised before polls, he said.
On the issue of lawyers long march for the restoration of judges, he said:’we are in contact with APDM leadership and legal fraternity. Our negotiations are underway without any deadlock at any point. We believe that the matter would be resolved amicably as all of us are sincere to iron it out’.
He expressed his concern over the large-scale transfer and postings of govt officers in federal and provincial level surprisingly few days ahead of formation of new govt.
‘Prices of different items have been increased manifold. Petrol prices are being planned to rise within two or three days. It appears that establishment wants to give govt with the gifts of ocean of problems to damage the popularity graph of new govt’, he remarked.
On the issue of missing persons, he said that strategy was clear to address the issue and find them.
Meanwhile, PML-N on Tuesday showed its full strength for Punjab Assembly as 24 independent MPAs-elect from different parts of the province formally joined the PML-N.
After demonstrating its strength, it is almost clear that PML(N) will form the govt in Punjab
With the joining of 24 independents, the PML-N’s total strength in the House reached to 134 MPAs-elect, 17 members short to achieve the golden number of 151 or simple majority in the House to form its govt in the Punjab on its own.
However, coupled with the 66 members from the PPP, the PML(N) would enjoy the support of two-thirds majority in the House.
PML- Functional has already announced its support to the PML-N leadership for the formation of its govt in Punjab.
Some PML-Q MPAs-elect also announced their support to the PML-N leadership for the formation of its govt but Shahbaz denied having any link with the formation of Forward Block in the PML-Q.
Those who joined the PML-N expressed full confidence in the leadership of Nawaz Sharif and Shahbaz Sharif and said they had joined the party unconditionally.
Those who joined the PML-N include Shuja Khanzada from PP-16, Ch. Muhammad Saqlain from PP-24, Tahir Ahmed Sindhu from PP-30, Malik Javed Iqbal Awan from PP-39, Karam Elahi Bandial from PP-40, Muhammad Asif Malik from PP-41, Malik Muhammad Waris Kallo from PP-42, Abdul Hafeez Khan from PP-43, Amir Hayat Khan Rokari from PP-44, Muhammad Feroze Joya from PP-46, Malik Adil Hussain from PP-50, Muhammad Ilyas Chinioti from PP-73, Muhammad Masood Lali from PP-80, Iftikhar Ahmed Khan from PP-81, Makhdom Syed Ali Shah from PP-89, Ch. Ifranud Din from PP-115, Rai Farooq Umer Khan from PP-185, Malik Ali Abbas Khokhar from PP-192, Mian Moeen Wattoo from PP-193, Ch. Javed Ahmed Advocate from PP-228, Asif Syed Minhas from PP-238, Malik Jahanzeb from PP-269, Mian Muhammad Kazim Ali Pirzada and Muhammd Safdar Gill from PP-274 and two MMA leaders Ali Haider Ali Niazi and Malik Qasir Langeriyal.
The PML-N is looking forward to welcome more independents to the party fold in the next few days.
President PML-N and Parliamentary leader of the party Mian Shahhaz Sharif in the Punjab Assembly told reporters at a crowded Press conference that ‘they have obtained two-thirds majority in the House after the support of the independent candidates’.
Shahbaz told reporters the PML-N Parliamentarians would take oath under the 1973 Constitution and not under the PCO.
Although the PML-N had majority in Punjab to form govt bolstered with the support of the PPP, he said, adding the PML-N and PPP has same stance on the judiciary issue.
‘The PML-N wants restoration of pre-November 3 judiciary which will decide eligibility of Pervez Musharraf to stand in election to the office of President’, he said.
He said a joint meeting of Parliamentary parties of PML-N, PPP and ANP has been convened on February 27 to demand immediate session of the National Assembly and smooth transfer of power.
Meanwhile, PML-N Lahore General Secretary and party candidate for PP-141, Mian Mujtaba Shuja-ur-Rehman has said that he will relinquish his constituency for the party President Mian Shahbaz Sharif.
Mujtaba said it will be a great honour for the party workers and voters of his constituency if Shahbaz contested from that seat.
It may be mentioned here that elections in PP-141 was postponed due to the death of the PML-Q candidate Tariq Banday who died of cardiac arrest some days before the polls.
Mian Mujtaba observed that people love the PML-N chief Mian Shahbaz Sharif, and he is bound to win with a very big margin from PP-141.
AFP adds: Nawaz Sharif is planning to contest by-elections, his spokesman said Tuesday, which could make him eligible to run for prime minister in the newly-elected government.
His brother Shahbaz Sharif will also stand, said Siddiqul Farooq, spokesman for the Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N), which emerged as the second biggest party in last week’s parliamentary elections.
“There is no dearth of vacant seats and the Sharifs can contest by-elections without any problem,” Farooq told AFP.

The Nation

 

[mujahideen]

Post-polls quake in bureaucracy

Afzal Bajwa

ISLAMABAD - The blue-eyed boys of the outgoing regime holding key positions in the bureaucracy mostly on extensions and contracts were on the run ahead of the induction of newly elected government.
Dozens of top bureaucrats including ambassadors posted abroad were employed either on contract basis or were serving on post-retirement extensions. With their apex bosses either voted out or still surviving pressure in the Presidency, top bureaucrats were to avail first available options starting from resignation to take leave prior to retirement (LPR).
Anwar Mehmood Secretary Information, who was on contract, has resigned much ahead of the completion of his contract while Inspector General Punjab Ahmed Nasim has sought LPR.
First to achieve honourable replacement of his good old days’ posting as Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister Punjab was GM Sikandar who secured a rather better slot in the federal bureaucracy. According to an Establishment Division notification issued on Tuesday, Sikandar has been transferred and posted Federal Secretary Social Welfare and Special Education, sources said.
The sources also confirmed the removal of Khalid Saeed from the position of Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister. However, they added, the notification in this regard was not issued till late Tuesday evening but was most likely to be issued Wednesday. The sources were of the view that Saeed, a close confidant of former prime minister Shaukat Aziz, after being removed as PSPM could be continuing with his additional assignment as Chairman National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA).
According to the sources, the post-polls reshuffle in the bureaucracy had not gained such a loud momentum until the Senate passed a resolution against post-retirement extensions and holding of more than one top slot by any bureaucrat.
The secretaries on contract basis, inter alia, include Riaz Muhammad Khan (Foreign Affairs), Vakil Ahmed Khan (Religious Affairs), Dr Asad Elahi (Statistics Division), and Chairman Federal Board of Revenue Abdullah Yousaf, while Establishment Division Secretary Tariq Bukhari was on extension.
Followed by the overhauling of the federal top-level bureaucracy, the Foreign Affairs Ministry would also be undergoing massive reshuffle wherein a number of director generals and ambassadors were on contract basis, the sources said.
Our Staff Reporter from Lahhore adds: Former Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Punjab G.M. Sikander, who was relieved by the Punjab govt of his duties the other day after he had availed 3-month leave to serve his previous boss Ch Pervaiz Elahi during the latter’s campaign of the elections, has been given the post of the Secretary Social Welfare and Special Education Division.
Within about two days when he was made Officer on Special Duty at the Federal Capital, G.M. Sikander was appointed as the Federal Secretary.
On the other hand, Secretary Prosecution Department Shegan Sharif Malik has been given additional charge of Principal Secretary to CM Punjab, while its previous incumbent Yusuf Naseem Khokhar has gone to Switzerland.
Khokhar held the post in place of G.M. Sikander, who chose to go on leave for three months after the last govt, completed its term on November 18 the last.
G.M. Sikander, who was considered to be a very close associate of Ch Pervaiz Elahi, remained with Pervaiz Elahi since November 18, and was said to be a working for him.
However, after the Pakistan Muslim League-Q lost the elections, the plan of keeping G.M. Sikander in the Punjab, could not bear fruit.

The Nation

 

[mujahideen]

Impeachment not priority, says Zardari

ISLAMABAD (Agencies) - PPP Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari said Tuesday that the new government has “bigger mountains” to climb than the immediate impeachment of President Pervez Musharraf.
“We do not have two-thirds majority at the moment - when we will have it we will fulfil the wishes of the people,” Zardari told a private TV channel.
“We have much bigger mountains before us than the matter of impeachment of President Pervez Musharraf. We have crises of lawyers and democracy, we do not want confrontational politics,” he said.
Meanwhile, Zardari said that the party was the victim of selective rigging in a number of constituencies in the province but had reluctantly accepted the results as it did not want to rock the boat.
He expressed these views while addressing a meeting of the losing candidates of National and Provincial Assemblies from Sindh was held Tuesday in Islamabad to take stock of the political situation in the province and analyse how and where the elections were stolen in the province and also about the future course of action.
Dilating upon the political situation in the country he said that the establishment, which had always conspired against the elected governments, had weakened after the elections. This is the time for democratic political forces to strengthen the democratic institutions in the country and bury the conspiracies of anti democratic forces forever, he said.
Senator Asif Zardari said that if the elections had not been selectively rigged the party would have fared much better in the polls. However, we cannot shirk from the responsibilities that lie ahead on every one of us even if the elections were rigged, he said
Talking about the judges issue the PPP Co-Chairman said that the party fully realised how a weak judiciary had been manipulated by the dictatorship to scuttle democracy in the past. That is why, he said, the PPP intends to take measures, in association with other political parties, for strengthening the institution of judiciary by radically altering the mode of appointments of judges and giving it financial and administrative independence.
He said that it was incumbent upon the new democratic dispensation to strengthen the institution, rather than individuals, so that the judiciary became a bulwark for defending the Constitution in accordance with its oath and was not cowed down by usurpers and violators of the Constitution.
He said that the party will also pursue its manifesto objective of setting up a Truth and Reconciliation Commission in the country to recognise and accord respect to the victims of state repression and injustices. He said that the apology to the people of Balochistan was
the first step in this direction.
He said that the economic situation of the country was worsening by the day and the party had to brace itself to take up the challenge. Despite numerous and monumental challenges the party will not shirk from its responsibility and take along with it other democratic forces to find a solution to the problems, he said.
The PPP Co-Chairman said that it was now widely recognised by national and international jurists that the country’s first directly elected Prime Minister Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto was judicially murdered. He said that the party will seek the support of other political parties in seeking an apology from the Parliament for the judicial murder of Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto.
About the election he said that the PPP had proofs of how victory was snatched from its winning candidates not only in Sindh but also in other provinces and asked the participants that instead of being discouraged they should challenge the manipulative practices at appropriate forums.
He said that the party had set up its Election Monitoring Cells in Islamabad, Lahore, Karachi, Quetta and Karachi which were tasked to catalogue election rigging and also pursue the rigging cases with the Election Commission and other relevant bodies.
He also asked the participants to identify the problems faced by their constituents and draw up plans for how to meet those demands for the consideration of the party when it forms the government.
The party Co-Chairman said that the party would formulate polices in the light of the advice of its members and that was why he had called these consultative meetings to broaden the base of advice.
Paying tributes to Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto he said that it was due to her leadership that despite conspiracies by invisible hands the Pakistan Peoples Party had once again established its credentials as a truly federal party that had vote bank throughout the length and breadth of the country. He said that the party, after the formation of the government, would urge the UN to probe Shaheed Benazir Bhutto’s assassination to expose the perpetrators, financiers and plotters of the crime.
The meeting was also attended by some central party leaders including Makhdoon Amin Fahim, Yousuf Raza Gillani, Jehangir Bader, Raja Pervez Ashraf, Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Qaim Ali Shah, Sherry Rehman, Yousuf Talpur, Khursheed Shah, Nisar Khuro, Professor N.D.Khan, Rukhsana Bangash, Fauzia Wahab and Fauzia Habib,
The participants also offered Fateha for the soul of Shaheed Mohtarma Bhutto and all those killed in the cause of democracy and rule of law.

The Nation

 

[mujahideen]

Senators form forward bloc

ABRAR SAEED

ISLAMABAD - Some six senators have formed a group in the Upper House of the Parliament in the greater national interest and ostensibly to work for the supremacy of the Parliament.
Mostly comprising the Pakistan Muslaim League-Q (PML-Q) senators, the group of six said that they would work for the supremacy of the Constitution and in the largest interest of the country and the people of Pakistan.
The senators who had constituted the separate group included Zafar Iqbal Chaudhry, Wali Muhammad Badini, Nilofer Bakhtiar, Amjad Abbas and Asif Jatoi of PML-Q and Mir Israrullah Zahri of Balochistan National Party.
Disclosing the constitution of the group here at a press conference in Islamabad Press Club on Tuesday afternoon, they said that the formation of group was aimed at promoting truth and condemning lies.
They said that they would support only those decisions or policies of the government which would be in the national interest. They also made it clear that they would not be deemed as part of the government and would not be part of decisions taken against the national interest.
The senators of PML-Q also said they have not decided to join Pakistan People’s Party or any other political party as they have their own political and ideological agenda and would not merge in any group.
They said the only purpose for forming this group was to promote truth.
The group said they would not condemn the policies and decisions taken by the government but at the same time could not support the decisions taken against national interest, including deposing the judges.

The Nation

 

[mujahideen]

‘PPP-led coalition to show two-thirds majority today’

By Babar Dogar

LAHORE: PML-N Quaid Nawaz Sharif has said the PPP-led coalition comprising the PML-N, the ANP and independent MPs will show their two-thirds majority in their federal parliamentary meeting today (Wednesday) and would not tolerate any delay on the part of President Pervez Musharraf in convening the National Assembly session.

Addressing a press conference after the parliamentary committee meeting at Model Town on Tuesday, Nawaz warned that it was not Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali government, which would wait for three months for convening of the National Assembly.

He categorically stated that people of Pakistan had given their verdict against President Pervez Musharraf and he should quit immediately. Nawaz reiterated that the restoration of judiciary was their top agenda. “We have clearly discussed this specific issue with our allies,” he added.

He stated that the new government had yet to take up responsibility after elections and the caretaker government had increased the prices of wheat and oil. He said they were doing transfer and postings of officers both at the federal and provincial levels illegally. He termed these steps wrong and stated that the efforts were being made to further complicate the issues.

He said the people pinned great hopes on the new government. He said the country was almost ungovernable and it was not an easy task to bring it out of problems. He said they were determined to face these problems.

He stated that the party’s parliamentary meeting had decided that Shahbaz Sharif would be their parliamentary leader in the Punjab. When asked as who would be the interim Punjab CM till the time Shahbaz contests election, he said the parliamentary meeting would decide it later.

To a query that Shahbaz had delivered as Punjab CM when the PML-N had phenomenal majority and whether he would be able to deliver in the same way in coalition with the PPP, Nawaz said they would deliver with the help of their allies. He said they would meet the requirements of their allies as well as the masses.

When asked whether they were supporting the forward bloc in the Senate, he said they would welcome those who were working for the restoration of judiciary, constitution and democracy. To a query on the PML-Q parliamentarians joining the PML-N, he said it was a wrong impression. He said they were not taking any PML-Q parliamentarian and rather the PML-Q itself was disintegrating. He said the PML-Q was earlier claiming that they would sit in the opposition and now they were expressing their readiness to hold dialogue with them. Regarding the statement of Condoleezza Rice about President Pervez Musharraf, Nawaz said she might have given any such statement at personal level. He said the people had given their mandate against Musharraf, and he had no future.

Earlier the parliamentary meeting passed a number of resolutions. They expressed their complete faith in the leadership of Nawaz Sharif and Shahbaz Sharif and paid gratitude to their leaders, workers and voters for giving them phenomenal success in the face of massive rigging. The meeting also paid tribute to lawyers, journalists, thinkers, labourers and members of civil society for creating awareness among masses. The meeting elected Shahbaz Sharif as its parliamentary leader. The meeting expressed its concern along with international community on the issue of terrorism and wanted to resolve it through democratic process minus the role of Pervez Musharraf. The meeting lauded ex-Maj-Gen Aitsham’s statement regarding rigging in 2002 and claimed that Musharraf had brought a rubberstamp in the parliament for the approval of the LFO. It reiterated its commitment of restoring the judiciary for bringing peace, prosperity and ending other menaces in the country. The meeting also expressed solidarity with the masses of NWFP, Balochistan and Sindh and assured them that they equally shared their feelings.

APP adds: Nawaz reiterated his commitment to reinstatement of deposed judges and said an agreement in this regard had been reached with the PPP. “Restoration of judges is essential for country’s integrity and there is no controversy between the PML-N and the PPP about it,” Nawaz said.

He said in a meeting held between the PML-N and the PPP in Islamabad after the elections, it was decided that judges should be restored. Nawaz said the PML-N was fully committed to its manifesto that gives top priority to restoration of sacked judges, as according to him their removal on November 3 last year was illegal and against the constitution.

He said there was no foreign pressure on the PML-N to favour President Pervez Musharraf, adding that the PML-N would never compromise on its promises made with the masses before the elections. To another question, he said the party would continue its efforts to restore the 1973 Constitution, supremacy of parliament and rule of law.

‘PPP-led coalition to show two-thirds majority today’

 

[mujahideen]

Musharraf's rivals vow to banish army from politics

By Kamran Haider

ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - Pakistani opposition parties which inflicted a crushing defeat on President Pervez Musharraf's allies in last week's election vowed on Wednesday to banish the military from politics.

At a show of strength gathering attended by 171 National Assembly members-elect, they also called on President Pervez Musharraf to immediately summon parliament so they can show they have the majority needed to choose the next prime minister.

U.S. ally Musharraf seized power as a general in 1999 but stepped down as chief of the powerful army in November before becoming a civilian ruler of a country which the military has ruled for more than half of its 60 years of existence.

While Musharraf did not take part in the Feb. 18 parliamentary elections, the main party that backs him suffered heavy losses, largely because of the president's unpopularity and anger over rising prices and food shortages.

The Pakistan People's Party (PPP) of assassinated former prime minister Benazir Bhutto won the most seats but not enough to form a government on its own.

The Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) of another former prime minister, Nawaz Sharif, came second and the two parties are in talks, along with a smaller third group, on a coalition government that could force Musharraf from power.

Asif Ali Zardari, Bhutto's widower who now leads the PPP, said the opposition should work together to end the supremacy of the military-led establishment.

"I think the homage to my ... wife would be that we unite together, we take democracy, we take power for parliament and once and for all, finish the establishment," Zardari told the meeting.

Bhutto was assassinated on Dec. 27 in a gun and bomb attack blamed on al Qaeda-linked militants.


"LONG-LASTING DEMOCRACY"

Sharif assured Zardari that his party would extend full support to him, although he did not say his party would accept cabinet posts. Some senior officials in Sharif's party have said it might support the PPP, but not serve in the government.

"We must see that we have a long-lasting democracy in this country and abandon the role of the army and the military in the politics of Pakistan forever," Sharif said.

"This is what we should be striving for."

Zardari did not mention Musharraf, but Sharif said the people had sent him a message on election day.

"It should be amply clear to him that the nation has given its verdict against dictatorship," Sharif said.

Musharraf has rejected opposition calls to resign and has said he was ready to work with whoever becomes prime minister.

Confrontation between the president and a hostile parliament in nuclear-armed Pakistan could prolong instability, which allies fear could distract attention from the battle against rising militant violence.

Bhutto and Sharif were arch rivals in the 1990s when they both ruled as prime minister twice, but they became allies in opposition to Musharraf.

Sharif said the opposition parties would end up with two-thirds of National Assembly seats and he called on Musharraf to call the session as soon as the Election Commission issues official results. It is expected to declare results by Saturday.

"We are not prepared to wait for a single more day for the assembly to be convened," he said.

Neither Zardari not Sharif contested elections and a senior PPP leader, Makhdoom Amin Faheem, is expected to be nominated for the post of prime minister.

(Additional reporting by Zeeshan Haider)

 

[batmannow]

chor of NAWABSHAH and THAGG OF LAHORE can they realy put pakistani politics and economy in balance?

 

[mujahideen]

Zulfiqar Magsi named new governor of Balochistan

QUETTA: Nawabzada Zulfiqar Magsi Wednesday named new governor of Balochistan. Magsi will take the oath of his office today or tomorrow, sources said. He will be the13th governor of Balochistan Zulfiqar Magsi had won Balochistan Assembly seat from his native Jhal Magsi constituency.

Courtesy Geo

 

[mujahideen]

Cooperating with each other for country’s interest: Chaudhry Nisar

ISLAMABAD: Muslim League-N leader, Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan has said, “We do not accept President Musharraf as constitutional and legal president, while the People’s Party leader, Nabil Gabol insisted N-League to remain associated in the centre. Talking to the Geo News correspondent ahead of the PPP Co-Chairman, Asif Ali Zardari’s luncheon party, Chaudhry Nisar said that we were cooperating with each other for the larger interest of the country and would support PPP unconditionally. He said that the Muslim League-Q was crushingly defeated and the N-League has serious reservations against its inclusion in the centre, as they had supported the unconstitutional president for 9 years. Chaudhry Nisar said that this was the singular alliance, which has no differences on the ministries. PPP leader Nabil Gabol said that his party has attained the position of forming the government. He said we wish that N-League should remain associated in the centre and requested Nawaz Sharif to give up his inflexibility and join in the centre. PPP has some reservations with the MQM, however, Asif Zardari desires taking along all the parties. He said that MQM should avoid issuing irresponsible statements. On the other hand, 8 independent members from FATA announced their support for the PPP government, whom PPP Co-Chairman met at the Parliament Lodges.

Courtesy Geo

 

[mujahideen]

Asif vows to continue efforts for democracy restoration

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan People's Party (PPP) Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari Wednesday said he would continue his struggle for the elimination of dictatorship and the restoration of democracy in the country. Addressing a luncheon arranged in honour of Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N), ANP and independent representatives, he said the martyrdom of Benazir Bhutto will always remind us to persist on the path of complete and true democracy, adding her sacrifices would always be remembered. Zardari said, 'I appeal to all the political parties to work in concert with each other for the permanent elimination of dictatorship and any role of establishment,' adding, 'Today's meeting offers us a new chapter of democracy and hope.' Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) Chief Nawaz Sharif said the presence of all the people here is a clear-cut message to President Musharraf to resign. Addressing to the gathering, Awami National party Chief Asfandyar Wali said people of Pakistan has given their verdict on February 18, adding, no compromise on principles is likely. On this occasion, all the leaders including Asif Ali Zardari, Mian Nawaz Sharif, Asfandyar Wali, Makhdoom Amin Fahim and others joined their hands to express unity.

Courtesy Geo

 

[mujahideen]

Mandate of the masses has to be respected: Musharraf

ISLAMABAD: President Pervez Musharraf has said the mandate of the masses has to be respected and no one will be allowed to create hurdles in the smooth transition to democracy. Speaking to former Punjab chief minister Mian Manzoor Wattoo on Wednesday, he said the parties that succeeded in the polls would have full freedom to form a government.Many issues were discussed at the meeting, including reasons for the PML-Q’s defeat and the post-poll scenario, sources told Online. Musharraf assured Wattoo he was ready to work with the new government and expressed hope that the parties that form it would work together for the welfare of the country, especially to root out terrorism. After the meeting, Wattoo told reporters he would support the establishment of a national government but would back the it on an issue-to-issue basis. Independent MPs would also lend their support to the government on the same basis, he added.

Daily Times - Leading News Resource of Pakistan

 

[mujahideen]

PML-Q to protect Pervez Musharraf: Pervaiz Elahi

LAHORE: Punjab PML-Q President Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi said on Wednesday that his party had elected President Pervez Musharraf for a five-year term and would protect him from impeachment. Addressing a press conference after a parliamentary party meeting at his residence here, he indirectly hinted at support for the PPP if it wanted to form a government in Punjab without PML-N’s support. Elahi said only three people have defected from the PML-Q. He also condemned PML-N leaders Nawaz Sharif and Shahbaz Sharif for allegedly starting the practice of “horse trading” [in reference to defections]. Later, he told a party delegation that the people who had performed poorly in the elections would be replaced, Online reported. Also on Wednesday, PML-Q President Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain and a delegation of former ruling senators assured President Musharraf of the party’s support. Musharraf told the delegation that he would continue to play his role as constitutional president, Dawn News reported.

Daily Times - Leading News Resource of Pakistan

 

[mujahideen]

Mushahid vows to support motion against Article 58 (2b)

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) Secretary General Mushahid Hussain Syed has said he will back any move by the PML-Nawaz and the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) against presidential powers to dissolve the assembly.

Appearing on Geo News’ talk show Capital Talk, in which PPP Senior Vice Chairman Makhdoom Amin Fahim and PML-N leader Chaudhry Nisar Ali also participated, the PML-Q leader said: “We will extend cooperation to the new government.”

Responding to a question on presidential powers to dissolve assemblies under Article 58 (2b), Mushahid Hussain said he would back any move by the PML-N and PPP to curtail these powers. Asked by Chaudhry Nisar if he would support a motion against presidential powers to disband the parliament, Mushahid Hussain said he would. Nisar and Fahim thanked Mushahid for the assurance.

Daily Times - Leading News Resource of Pakistan