Legislation right of parliament: PPP

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) has decided to strongly resist 'all the new centres of power' confronting the parliament by remaining within the legal and constitutional limits, Geo News reported.

It was decided at a meeting chaired by President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf and attended by PPP's key federal ministers and other central leaders.

Briefing about the meeting, Spokesperson to the President Senator Farhatullah Babar said that the meeting discussed current situation in the country with focus on preparation for elections, overcoming energy crisis and the legal challenges before the government.

He said that the President during the meeting called upon the Party leadership to gear up preparations for the future elections which the President emphasized would be held on time in accordance with the constitutional and legal dictates and in consultation with coalition partners.

President advised party leadership to ensure that every MNA‚ MPA and ticket holder thoroughly check voters lists so that no one was left out and report any discrepancy to Election Commission for rectification.

He said PPP believes in power of the people and is never shy of going to masses for endorsement of its policies. PPP believes in free‚ fair, transparent elections for which it is important that electoral rolls should be free of errors and no eligible voter is left out of list. He asked party leaders to reach out to masses and address their problems.

The President said that holding of next general elections on time at the end of the tenure by the present assemblies would be another important milestone in the nation's journey towards strengthening of the democracy and further strengthening of the political process.

Spokesperson said that Minister for Water and Power Ch. Ahmed Mukhtar briefed the meeting about the energy situation in the country.

Law Minister Farooq H. Naek briefed on legal challenges and strategy adopted to confront them. The meeting expressed satisfaction with strategy and determination to resist within bounds of law and Constitution.

It said law making is sacred responsibility of legislature which will not be abandoned at any cost.

It reposed full confidence in President Zardari and Prime Minister Ashraf’s leadership.

Those who were present during the meeting included among others Chairman PPP Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, former Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani, Makhdoom Amin Fahim, Syed Naveed Qamar, Rehman Malik, Senator Farooq H Naek, Syed Khursheed Ahmed Shah, Qamar Zaman Kaira, Makhdoom Shahabuddin, Ch. Ahmed Mukhtar, Senator Mian Raza Rabbani, Senators Jahangir Badar and Sardar Ali Khan. (Geo Urdu/Agencies)