Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf said Thursday that the government had no clash with any institution and was serious in holding free, fair and transparent elections.

Addressing a gathering after inspecting the Thar coal project, Prime Minister Ashraf said he would accept the decision of the people. “No one understands politics better than the PPP which has given the blood of its leaders for democracy,” the premier said. Raja Pervez Ashraf said no one should teach them the lesson of politics and democracy as Pakistan People’s Party has waged unprecedented struggle and tendered sacrifices for democracy. He said revolution has already come as the democratic government is going to complete its five years tenure despite all difficulties. He said when the PPP took over, there was shortage of wheat and atta but now the country is in a position to export wheat. This all happened due to prudent policies of the PPP government, he claimed. The prime minister said democracy is only way forward and it comes through elections which are coming nearer. “We are not afraid of elections rather the PPP likes elections.” He said free, fair and transparent elections are the right of the masses.  He said a consensus Chief Election Commissioner has been appointed and further issues in this regard will be resolved in consultations with other parties. He said there is no reason of despondency as the PPP has its roots across the country including Gilgit-Baltistan and AJK. Raja Parvez Ashraf held out an assurance that Thar coal would be exploited expeditiously for progress and development of Sindh and the entire country. He said huge coal deposits are a great gift of the nature for people of the area and Pakistan's prosperity lies in Thar. The prime minister expressed satisfaction on the pace of work for exploitation of Thar coal and said three companies are already working on different projects. He said the provincial government in collaboration with Engro company is working on one block while a UK company and a Chinese company are interested in other blocks. Raja Pervez Ashraf said he was told during the briefing that only one block of Thar would produce two billion barrels of diesel and there are many such blocks in the region. He said once Thar coal projects are completed, people from different regions of the world would seek employment in Thar. The prime minister said President Asif Ali Zardari, federal and provincial governments and other concerned departments are zealously working to exploit Thar coal for national development. He appreciated the spirit of renowned scientist Dr Samar Mubarakmand who he said is working on coal gasification project without any salary. The prime minister congratulated Dr Samar and his team for successfully implementing the project and announced one month additional salary for the employees of the project. He said further funds for the project have also been released. Chief Minister Sindh Syed Qaim Ali Shah, Minister for Information and Broadcasting Qamar Zaman Kaira, provincial ministers and parliamentarians and others were also present on the occasion.