Pakistan: Wattoo rules out mid-term polls

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/

Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Punjab President Mian Manzoor Ahmed Wattoo has said that his party has always played a decisive role for salvaging democracy and that there is no chance of establishment of an undemocratic set up in the country.

Talking to party workers, who called on him on Friday, Wattoo said that all constitutional institutions, including judiciary and parliament, were functional and enjoyed complete support from masses.

Wattoo said that he did not foresee midterm elections in the country at the moment because neither the prime minister would resign nor was there any possibility of disqualification of the prime minister by the court. Emergence of both of these scenarios was most unlikely, he predicted.

He ruled out the allegations of supporting incumbent government and clarified that the PPP was only supporting democracy as salvation in order to brighten up future of the country which hinges on continuity of democratic system.

He said that the present government had been discredited by the people because it had failed to deliver which was evident from excessive load-shedding of electricity and gas; worsening law and order situation and higher rate of inflation. He urged the government to immediately undertake necessary initiatives for the constitution of judicial commission to investigation rigging allegations. “It should not miss this opportunity to diffuse the situation,” he suggested.

Wattoo criticised the action of the government regarding issuing arrest warrants for Dr Tahirul Qadri and Imran Khan, adding that it was a political move; therefore, it would spoil comparatively enabling political environment in the country.

Meanwhile, PTI and PML-N workers joined the PPP on Friday and expressed their full confidence in the leadership of Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, Asif Ali Zardari and Mian Manzoor Ahmed Wattoo.

Wattoo also nominated Milk Asif Awan as deputy secretary general of the PPP’s Punjab chapter.

PPP Punjab Secretary General Tanvir Ashraf Kaira, while addressing the corner meeting, welcomed the new workers and said that their joining would further strengthen the party in Lahore.

Malik Sohail predicted that a large number of workers of other parties would join the PPP.

“The PPP is destined to take off under the leadership of Bilawal,” he added. Other party leaders also spoke on the occasion.