No democracy minus Zardari: Taseer

LAHORE Punjab Governor Salmaan Taseer on Wednesday said that future of democracy in Pakistan was linked to President Zardaris presence in the Presidency.
'If President Zardari is forced to resign, democracy would also come to an end, the Governor said while talking to media at the residence of PPP Punjab Women Wing President, Beelum Hasnain, where he had gone to attend a breakfast hosted in honour of Chief Minister, Gilgit-Baltistan, Syed Mehdi Shah.
He further informed the media that Prime Minister Gilani would also resign in case President Zardari was forced to leave the Presidency.
Taseer maintained that demand for resignations from the President and PPP Ministers, coupled with the demand for mid-term polls was a conspiracy to derail democracy. To a question, he said that the way the President was being attacked was sufficient to prove that conspiracy was being hatched against democracy.
He reiterated that President had been elected by two-thirds majority of the Parliament and the four Provincial Assemblies, and there was no question of his tendering resignation. Rejecting demand for mid-term polls, he said that the polls would be held after completion of five-year term of the present government.
Salman said PPP wanted to strengthen democracy in the country, but anti-democratic forces were bent upon harming the democratic process.
In reply to a question, he said Nawaz Sharif would have to contest election to become Prime Minister and it was the duty of Chief Minister to conduct elections and not that of the Governor.
Taseer said PPP wanted the PML-N to become a national party by spreading its roots in other provinces.
Responding to a question about price-hike, he replied that it was due to economic recession at the world level.