Pakistan Views

PPP co-chairmen Asif Ali Zardan had a meeting with Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan here on Friday. They discussed ways and means to strengthen co-operation between the two countries in different fields.

Later, talking to newsmen Zardari said he came to the brotherly country to attend the Socialist Conference. He said Pakistan and Turkey have old religious, cultural and political relations. Zardari said he brought a message of love from the people of Pakistan for Turkish brethren.

He said a new democratic government is in place in Pakistan and is being stabilised. He said trade and agriculture ties between the two countries also came under discussion. He pointed out that soon a delegation from Pakistan will visit Turkey which will hold talks on enhancing co-operating in trade and agriculture sector between the two countries.

The PPP co-chairmen also held talks with Turkey’s Opposition leader and the two leaders discussed ways and means to push forward the democracy. Zardari will also have a meeting with the Turkish President Abdullah Gul later before departing for Istanbul.

The police submitted report relating to Asif Ali Zardari assault case in the local court here stating that all the five nominated accused in the case could not be arrested, while the court had earlier issued non-bail-able warrants of arrests of all the five accused.

Former IG Sindh, Rana Maqbool, former Senator Saifur Rahman, Mujibur Rahman, Najaf Mirza and Faruque Amin are accused of torturing and attempting to put Asif Ali Zardari to death.

All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) on Monday stressed need for holding joint consultations aimed at a just solution of the Kashmir dispute.

It was decided in a meeting held here at Zardari house between the APHC leader Mir Waiz Umar Farooq and Co-chairman of PPP Asif Ali Zardari.

Besides Mir Waiz Umar Farooq the APHC delegation comprised of Professor Abdul Ghani Bhat, Bilal Ghani Lone, Syed Faiz Naqshbandi, Professors Araf and Yousuf Naseem.

Zardari assisted by Jhangir Bader, Secretary General of the Party, Minister for Kashmir Affairs Qamar Zaman Kaira, Chaudhry Abdul Majeed President Pakistan Peoples Party Azad Kahsmir, Chaudhry Yasin Secretary General of PPP Azad Kashmir, Qamar Zaman, Opposition leader in the Kashmir Legislative Assembly, Fauzia Habib and Monsoor Shaikh, Member Foreign Liaison Committee of the Party.

Recalling that relations between the APHC and the PPP were established by Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto, the joint declarations stated that this relationship would not only be maintained but also further strengthened in the years to come.

It was said that both PPP and APHC will take steps to promote people to people contacts between the Kashmiri people living on both sides of the Line of Control (LoC).

The APHC delegation condoled with Zardari the martyrdom of Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto and termed it a great loss not only for Pakistan but also for the people of Kashmir and the entire Muslim World.

They also offered Fateha for the soul of Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto. Zardari on the occasion offered Fateha for the Kashmiri martyrs.

The joint declaration reaffirmed that APHC is the representative body of the Kashmiris and reiterated their support to the people of Kashmir in their struggle.

The PPP Co-Chairman, Asif Ali Zardari has said that some hidden forces and conspiring elements are engaged in machinations for the downfall of present coalition government.

Addressing a press conference at Bhutto House Naudero on Saturday, Zardari said that coalition partners are working out a strategy to oust the President.

“If we don’t succeed, Landhi Jail would be the destination for two coalition parties”, he said and added that he and Nawaz Sharif held talks in Lahore for two days in an endeavour to sort out the issues through reconciliation.

“Dialogue is continuing and our coalition is intact”, the PPP Co-chairperson said.

He said that Benazir Bhutto had left her will to keep Pakistan intact and, therefore, on the day of her soyem, he had raised the slogan “we want Pakistan’.

“We will fully observe the will of Benazir Bhutto which is a beacon of light for us”.

Zardari said that still we are fighting against undemocratic elements and the day is not far off when like Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani,” our worker will be the President of Pakistan raising slogan of Jiay Bhutto”.

He pointed out that differences do occur in a house between two brothers and families and we both coalition partners too have differences but these would be resolved soon and bring a consensus President after the slot goes vacant.

“We will make Pakistan prosperous and make Larkana and Naudero model district and town”.

To a question Zardari said that UN has been approached with the request for an inquiry into the martyrdom of Benazir Bhutto and our UN Ambassador is quite active in this regard while he himself is lobbying in a the matter and has contacted with Turkey and other friendly countries, who have assured of their cooperation.

The Ambassador-designate for UAE Khurshid Ahmed Junejo, Anwar Bhutto, Provincial Ministers, leaders of PML-N and others also donated blood.

The 55th birth anniversary of Pakistan Peoples Party Chairperson Benazir Bhutto will be celebrated on Saturday (June 21) with great reverence as gloom still prevails after her assassination on December 27 last.

She came to Pakistan on May 12, 2007 after spending more than eight years in exile to continue her struggle for downtrodden and neglected sections of the society. Her mission was the restoration of democracy in Pakistan as the people of all the four provinces respected her as a national leader.

In this connection, the main event in twin cities will be held on Saturday at 6 pm at Liaquat Bagh, Rawalpindi, where she was assassinated. A large number of portraits of Benazir Bhutto with flowers and candlelight’s around will adorn the venue of the event and Quran Khwani will be held at maximum number of places. The party leaders and workers will donate blood on the day at special camps to be set up for the purpose. Blood donation camp will be set up on Saturday at the Liaquat Bagh where the party workers will donate blood.

Later in the evening, a commemorative event, marked by Quran Khwani, will be held to pay homage to Benazir Bhutto. Federal ministers, including Minister for Water and Power Raja Pervez Ashraf and Minister for Kashmir Affairs Qamar Zaman Qaira, MNAs and party leaders from the twin cities, will attend the event. In a statement, Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani has named Islamabad international airport as Benazir Bhutto International airport.

The Prime Minister has named General Hospital, Rawalpindi, as Benazir Hospital and Murree Road as Benazir Bhutto Road in consultation with the government of Punjab. On the occasion, Gilani has given Rs 50 million grant for the up-gradation of the hospital where her body was taken for autopsy. The Prime Minister also made an announcement to build a monument at the site where Benazir was assassinated after addressing a mammoth public rally at the historic Liaquat Bagh.

Co-Chairman PPPP Asif Ali Zardari vowed to restore the deposed judges of the superior courts in a constitutional and legal manner.

While addressing the participants of a general meeting of Peoples Lawyers Forum (PLF) here on Tuesday at the Governor House, Senator Asif Zardari said that PPPP has successfully completed the initial process of the judges’ restoration by releasing them from detention, the presentation of constitutional package and paying the salaries of all deposed judges.

Zardari told that his party is committed to make judiciary independent and to resolve the judges’ issue as soon as possible and for this particular purpose it increased the sanctioned posts of the judges of Supreme Court of Pakistan from 17 to 29 in the Finance Bill while the budget was also allocated for this task, he added.

PPPP Co-Chairman further said that they will not use any unconstitutional and illegal method to resolve the judiciary’s issue adding that such efforts were no more in favour of democracy as well as judiciary.

Zardari said that PPPP had no fear of the judiciary while it had no need to sack or minus any judge from the superior judiciary however he added that the sitting judges also will continue working after the reinstatement of deposed ones as this was agreed in Murree Accord.

He appealed to the coalition partners of the government to bring their proposals on the constitutional package soon for presenting it before the parliament for debate.

“We will follow and implement every decision of the parliament for the restoration of judges “, he concluded.

The lawyers led by Muhammad Hanif Tahir PLF Punjab President, Mian Muhammad Jahangir PLF Convenor in Lahore High Court expressed confidence on the policies and leadership of Zardari and assured him their full support for the completion of Benazir’s mission.

Governor Punjab Salman Taseer, Senior Punjab Minister Raja Riaz Ahmad, party General Secretary Jahangir Badar, provincial General Secretary PPPP Chaudhary Ghulam Abbas and other leaders of the party were also present at the meeting.

Co-chairman Pakistan People Party (PPP) Asif Ali Zardari has said that PPP would soon have its own President and the President House would echo with slogans of “Zinda Hai BB Zinda Hai”.

Addressing the party provincial legislatures and workers at Governor House Punjab here on Monday, Zardari said that PPP accepted the challenge of freeing democracy from anti democratic forces’ clutches and the days are not far when a PPP man would be in the President House.

Punjab Governor Salman Taseer and Senior Provincial Minister Raja Riaz, former opposition leader in Punjab Assembly Qasim Zia other were also present on the occasion. Zardari further said we have to free democracy from the clutches of anti-democratic forces, as it is their duty to provide a free and prosper environment to our future generation.

“We will make Pakistan a true democratic country. However, how and when to launch a movement in this connection, only the PPP would decide,” he added. He termed Lawyers’ long march as “mela”; not long march.

Pakistan Peoples Party has the experience to hold such long march and also knows how to start a movement. He also said no one should think that the PPP has weakened, the party is waiting for the right moment to strike.

“When the PPP will hold a long march, every one will witness a history in the making. We have the will and strength to hold long marches. The party workers should wait patiently till the party central executive committee announces the date for the long march,” he added.

“However, we are the follower of the Quaid-e-Azam, who made Pakistan through dialogues. Thus, we would restore true democracy in the country through dialogues. The PPP is the only party in Pakistan that fought for democracy and removed dictators, and never made any deal with them,” he told the part workers.

Zardari further said PPP would soon have a new President of Pakistan of Salman Taseer’s caliber and the President House would be open to common man and would echo with slogans of “Zinda Hai BB Zinda Hai”.

He announced that the PPP would celebrate the birthday anniversary of Benazir Bhutto on June 21 by giving blood donations. He also said he would mark this day by donating blood from Ghari Khuda Buxh and the PPP’s workers would also do the same in their areas.

He held the anti-democratic forces responsible for the murder of Benazir Bhutto, adding they would take revenge by establishing true democracy in the country. “We know how to give our lives and take lives for the defence of the country, but we are only committed to change the system and we want to follow the footprints of Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto and Benazir Bhutto,” he added Governor Punjab Salman Taseer spoke on the occasion.

Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari felicitated the leadership of lawyers on the successful and organized holding of Long March.

Asif Zardari said in a statement issued here, PPP has always supported the independent judiciary, adding all the pledges given by former PPP Chairperson Benazir Bhutto will be fulfilled without fail.

He congratulated the lawyers on very organized Long March.

PPP has withdrawn its candidates from Constituency NA-52, 55 and PP-10 to extend complete support to the PML-N candidates contenting in the upcoming by-elections. Decision to this regard was made by the party on the directive of PPP Co-Chairman, Asif Ali Zardari, said Sultan Mehmood Qazi member central Executive Committee CEC of PPP while addressing a press conference at the Rawalpindi Press Club here on Tuesday. PML-N candidate from NA-55 Haji Pervez Khan also addressed the Press conference on the occasion.Qazi Sultan said that Zardari has directed all the subordinate party organizations and party workers to take active part in the electoral campaign of the PML-N candidates in these constituencies.Captain Safdar, the son in Law of Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif and Haji Pervez Khan are contesting from NA-52 and 55 respectively, while President of PML-N Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif is contesting elections from PP-10.
Qazi said Zumurad Khan, Aamir Fida Piracha, Agha Riaz ul Islam and Rashid Mir were united under the banner of the party leadership as there were no differences among them, he added. Addressing on the occasion the PML-N candidate from NA-55 Haji Pervez Khan said that he was the actual candidate of the party being backed and supported by the party leadership, saying Ejaz Khan Jazi has not been given ticket by the party high command adding Jazi has been violating the party discipline and rules by dubbing himself being the party ticket holder, which he said was totally wrong and contrary to the fact.

The two major political parties of the ruling coalition on Tuesday agreed on setting up a joint committee for scrutinising the constitutional package and giving it a final touch before tabling in the parliament.
“The PML (N) agreed with the PPP proposal of setting up a joint committee. However, the former declined to rejoin the Cabinet in the present scenario and linked it with the reinstatement of November 2, 2007 judiciary in accordance with the spirit of Murree Declaration,” a senior political leader said.

Most political analysts think that the agreement between the PPP and the PML (N) on the formation of joint committee will give at least some extra time to the PPP, whose government is in budget-making process amid the country’s horrifying economic crisis. The Nawaz League assured that it would support the PPP in the crucial budget-making process, said a PML(N) leader.

The two parties discussed these issues in a luncheon meeting between the PML-N President Shahbaz Sharif and PPP Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari at Zardari House. Khawaja Asif and Ishaq Dar accompanied Shahbaz during the meeting while Zardari was assisted by Finance Minister Syed Naveed Qamar, Law Minister Farooq H. Naek and Information Minister Sherry Rehman.

The two sides agreed that Constitutional package will be placed before the Parliament after the budget for the next fiscal year. Zardari congratulated Shahbaz Sharif on his election to the Punjab Assembly and as prospective chief minister of the province. Asif Zardari assured Shahbaz Sharif that the PPP will support him as the Punjab chief minister and strengthen the provincial coalition government.

Meanwhile, PML(N) Chairman Raja Zafar-ul-Haq said that his party was maintaining its stand for reinstatement of the deposed judges in accordance with the Murree Declaration. “There is no change in our stance on the issue,” he told reporters after the first meeting of a six-member committee set up by the party high command for a scrutiny of a package of amendments to the Constitution proposed by the PPP.

The committee, which met at the Punjab House, examined various clauses of the constitutional package. “We agreed to a number of clauses of the draft,” Raja Zafar-ul-Haq said.

Raja Zafar-ul-Haq, who is heading the committee, said the panel would try to complete its task within a few days and submit a report to the party leadership. PML-N leaders Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, Ahsan Iqbal, Ishaq Dar, Khawaja Muhammad Asif, and legal expert Khawaja Haris attended the meeting. Prominent lawyer Fakhruddin G. Ibrahim, who had been specially invited, was not present at the meeting.