Zardari not withdrawing from presidential race

Badr said country needed a president with international stature and recognition, and Mr. Zardari was the only candidate who fulfilled this criterion. He lamented that a smear campaign had been launched against PPP nominee by anti-democratic forces to spoil his credentials.

To a question, he admitted the role of international mediators in the resignation of Pervez Musharraf, saying some friendly countries were contributing a lot in consolidation of democracy in Pakistan.

He said party has planned countrywide celebrations to mark the anticipated success of party chief Asif Ali Zardari as President of Pakistan.

He said a malicious propaganda campaign had been initiated against the PPP to derail the democratic process. Certain forces, he said, were trying to create political mess with the underlying objective of hindering completion of final phase of transition to democracy in the country.