PPP says against extension in military courts

KARACHI: The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) is against the extension in the military courts, a party member said during a briefing Friday evening.

According to Yousaf Raza Gilani, the former prime minister and a member of the PPP, the party has decided following a meeting that it would oppose the extension in the military courts. 

In his comments consequent to the meeting chaired by Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari and Asif Ali Zardari, the PPP chairperson and co-chairperson, respectively, Gilani said South Punjab does not want the "charity of a limited autonomy but their own province".

"We will not compromise on the 18th Amendment, for which we had conferred with all the parties and taken their input," he said. "The smaller provinces felt a sense of deprivation, which we eliminated."

In addition, PPP spokesperson Farhatullah Babar also demanded that the South Punjab province be immediately created.

Further, Gilani noted that all members had worked to resume the 1973 Constitution and that they were driven "to protect the 18th Amendment".

The federal government is retaking some of the institutions in violation of the 18th Amendment and the PPP strongly condemned it, he added.

The PPP has always faced the courts, the former premier mentioned, and was respectfully found not guilty. "We hope that the new chief justice of Pakistan will finally resolve the case of Bhutto," he said.

Gilani also said that the party would continue to raise its voice in favour of upholding human rights in the Parliament. The PPP always engaged in rules-based politics and does not give in to pressure, he said, adding: "We will do whatever is in the best interest of the public."