Expressing concern over the PML-N’s opposition to the local bodies’ polls, the meeting condemned the party’s moves aimed at creating hurdles in the way of the new province of Southern Punjab.
As per sources, the PPP’s Punjab chapter also recommended that the PPP and the PML-Q should contest the upcoming general elections on one election symbol to grab maximum seats in the National Assembly and the provincial assemblies.
The meeting also condemned registration of a case against Punjab Assembly Deputy Opposition Leader Shaukat Mehmood Basra by the provincial government, terming it political victimisation.
Briefing reporters after the meeting, PPP Northern Punjab President Imtiaz Safdar Warraich said the People’s Students Federation and the People’s Youth Organisation had been asked to organise torch-bearing rallies across the province to build public opinion in favour of the local bodies’ elections.
He was accompanied by party office bearers Haji Azizur Rehman Chan, Usman Saleem Malik and Chaudhry Manzoor Ahmad.
The PPP leader viewed that it would be contempt of court if local bodies’ elections were not held despite directions from the superior judiciary in this regard. “Though the elections have already been delayed, they must now be held in line with the court orders, and that too on party basis,” he stressed.
Warraich said the Punjab government should make necessary legislation to conduct the local bodies’ elections on party basis. He alleged that the Punjab government was avoiding the elections for fear of its anticipated defeat and to misappropriate the local government funds.
Answering a question, he said the PPP was holding a dialogue with the PML-N on the future interim set up and other issues only for the sake of strengthening democracy.
Answering another question, he said the PPP and the PML-Q would contest the upcoming general elections as allies and he would suggest that they should fight the electoral battles jointly on one election symbol.
Speaking on loadshedding, he said both the PPP and the PML-N would equally suffer in the upcoming elections because the latter had also not done anything worthwhile to produce electricity after the passage of the 18th constitutional amendment.
Answering a query, he said PPP workers would celebrate President Asif Ali Zardari’s four years in office by holding rallies and seminars. Speaking on the occasion, Chaudhry Manzoor said the government had appointed the Opposition’s nominee as the chief election commissioner, and now the PML-N should accept the PPP’s nominee as the caretaker prime minister.
