ISLAMABAD - Prime Minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf on Wednesday said Pakistan Peoples Party, having a history of struggle and great sacrifices for democracy, would continue to strive for strengthening of democratic system, which not only ensures the rule of common man but is well-recognised at international level.“From Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto to Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto and Co-Chairman PPP President Asif Ali Zardari, PPP has a history of struggle and sacrifices for democracy,” Prime Minister said while addressing the PPP’s Parliamentary Party meeting here at the PM’s House.He said the struggle and sacrifices of PPP created political sense and wisdom among the people and political forces, adding, “before the entry of Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto in national politics, common man in Pakistan had nothing to do with politics.” He said it was the fruit of democracy that a political worker like him has been elected as the Prime Minister of Pakistan.The Prime Minister said the present PPP-led government, having a majority in the Parliament, enjoys the support of masses, adding,”this is what democracy means.” The democratic system has been recognised by the world as a best system of governance, he remarked. He said PPP despite having 124 seats in the National Assembly - less than a simple majority of 172 required to form government - came to power with the support of the allied parties.Raja Ashraf said that despite the deadlines given by anti-democratic forces and pseudo-scientists to the PPP-led government as well as the political and economic pressures, the present democratic government owing to the political acumen of PPP leadership and the policy of reconciliation has presented its 5th consecutive budget.He said the PPP faced various tests and challenges including the disqualification of former Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani, but the party did not lose heart and decided to take democracy forward.The Prime Minister said with the country now entering electioneering phase, the appointment of a consensus Chief Election Commissioner has sent a good message across the world that the present government wanted a free, fair and impartial elections.He said credit for the appointment of a consensus CEC also goes to PPP leadership, which got this issue resolved amicably.Raja Ashraf highlighted the energy crisis as a challenge and said the PPP-led government was taking every possible measure to check this problem and reduce loadshedding.He also appreciated the efforts of Cabinet’s Special Committee on energy to reduce loadshedding, adding, with the addition of water resources in the country’s rivers, the hydro-power generation was expected to increase in the coming months and lessen the electricity shortfall in the country.He also informed the Parliamentary meeting about the deliberations on energy crisis, with particular reference to loadshedding in Punjab, in the Council of Common Interests (CCI) meeting, which was also attended by Chief Minister Punjab Mian Shahbaz Sharif.He said it was stressed in the CCI meeting that how a Federal government, which represents the Federation, can do discrimination with any province. “PPP being a Federal party cannot even imagine such a thing,” he remarked.Prime Minister on this occasion also highlighted the unprecedented development work as well as other milestones achieved by the PPP-led government during the last over four years and said the PPP will again emerge victorious in the next elections.He said with a lot of achievements including the restoration of 1973 Constitution in its original form by the Parliament, rehabilitation of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) of Swat, introduction of Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) - a poverty alleviation programme - and unprecedented development etc., the PPP has huge potential to win the next elections.The Prime Minister advised the PPP Parliamentarians to reach out to the masses and help resolve their problems with focus on the development of their respective constituencies.