Senior PPP leadership reiterates resolve to hold elections on time

KARACHI: A meeting of the senior leadership of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), held here at Bilawal House on Wednesday reiterated the commitment of the government and the PPP to thwart any attempt to postpone the elections.

The meeting was presided over by President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf and attended among others by Chairman PPP Bilawal Bhutto Zardari.

Spokesperson Senator Farhatullah Babar said that the meeting that lasted for over two hours discussed the current political situation prevailing in the country.

Noting that some elements were seeking to disrupt the electoral system and postpone the elections the meeting reiterated the commitment of the government and the PPP to thwart any attempt to postpone the elections.

The meeting made it clear that elections will be held on time as stipulated in the Constitution and no delay, even for a day, will be permitted on any pretext.

The meeting noted that if elections can be held in war torn and strife torn Afghanistan and Iraq there was no reason that these could not be held in Pakistan on time as stipulated in the Constitution.

The meeting also decided to set up a four-member committee to talk with the political forces and also with the provincial government of Punjab on current situation with a view of holding timely elections in a transparent, free and fair manner and to confront any challenge to it.

It said that no one will be permitted to deprive the people of their right to elect their representatives and choose their government.

The four-member committee comprises of Federal Minister Khursheed Shah, Senator Farooq Naek, Nazar Muhammad Gondal and Senator Mian Raza Rabbani.

Senator Farhatullah Babar said the meeting also expressed its determination to maintain law and order at all cost and to protect the life and property of citizens against any adventurism and under all circumstances.

Former Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani, Makhdoom Amin Fahim, Nazar Muhammad Gondal, Rana Farooq Saeed Khan, Syed Naveed Qamar, Qamar Zaman Kaira, Chaudhry Ahmed Mukhtar, Senator Dr. A. Rehman Malik, Mian Manzoor Wattoo, Mir Hazar Khan Bijarani, Syed Khursheed Shah, Makhdoom Shahabuddin, Senator Mian Raza Rabbani, Senator Jahangir Badar, Senator Sardar Ali Khan, Senator Farooq Naek, Ms. Sherry Rehman, Ms. Rukhsana Bangash, Ms. Fouzia Habib, Chaudhry Imtiaz Safdar Warraich and Spokesperson Senator Farhatullah Babar attended the meeting.