PPP Co-chairman and presidential candidate Asif Ali Zardari has said that his party desires to take all political forces along and give them place.
He was addressing PPP provincial assembly members of Punjab at a dinner hosted at the Prime Minister House Monday evening. “We will wait for the PML-N, as we believe that we are doing the politics of saving Pakistan.”
Zardari said proposing his name for the office of president by MQM leader Altaf Hussain indicates his political sagacity and a thinking that the PPP being a federal party should be given the opportunity.
Similarly, the PPP co-chairman said that ANP’s Asfandyar Wali, JUI’s Maulana Fazlur Rehman and leaders from Balochistan Sanaullah Zehri and Muhammad Aslam Raisani were standing with him, adding, it shows the political acumen of these leaders. “I will ask my other friends as well to show political maturity,” Zardari said and added if something happens to Pakistan, it will hurt the 180 million poor people.
Asif Zardari said the PPP was committed to take forward the mission of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto and other martyred leaders and workers, as they sacrificed their lives for the rights and welfare of poor masses.
He said, the PPP government is committed to bring about a change in system, as Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto had said in her last book that “My death will be catalyst of change”. Zardari said, it was the political wisdom and sagacity of Shaheed Benazir Bhutto which led to the ouster of a dictator through dialogue. “Our core mission is to change the system. Our vision is to make Pakistan a powerful country and nation,” he added.
Zardari said sitting in the Presidency will be a test of that political vision. He assured that the PPP will come upto the expectations of people and will put the country on the path of progress and prosperity.
“Challenges are big, but we are also the largest political party. If anyone can do it, that is the PPP,” Zardari stressed. He expressed his gratitude for the PPP members from the Punjab Assembly for their full support in the upcoming presidential elections.
Besides a large number of MPAs from Punjab, the Governor of Punjab, Salman Taseer, Federal Ministers and Provincial Ministers attended the dinner. — APP Asim Yasin adds: Addressing the legislators from Punjab, Asif Zardari said the PPP wants the change of system, which is the philosophy of party’s founding father late Zulfikar Ali Bhutto.
He said he has been grateful to MQM Quaid Altaf Hussain who nominated him as presidential candidate with full sincerity. “I assured the people that we will jointly lead the country out of crises,” he added. He also thanked the three provincial assemblies for passing resolutions in his support.
Speaking at the dinner, Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani said the Punjab should now reciprocate the gesture shown by Sindh, for electing the prime minister from Punjab, by supporting the president from a smaller province. “Is it not the right of Sindh to have their president … it will help alleviate the sense of deprivation among the smaller provinces,” he added.
Gilani brushed aside the impression that the president will conspire against the prime minister. “Who will he conspire against? Me? The prime minister from the same party?” he questioned.
He said after Mohtarma was assassinated in a terrorist attack and riots started all over the country, Sindh raised a voice that Punjab could not protect Benazir Bhutto. “It was Asif Zardari who had said that her death will be avenged through democracy and his political insight helped quell the feelings of the people and restore peace in the country,” the premier added.
“I promise to the people that the election of Asif Zardari will bring political stability in the country,” he said. He recalled that after Benazir’s death, Nawaz Sharif had decided not to participate in the elections, but it was Zardari who convinced him to review his decision.
The parliamentarians extended their full support to PPP’s presidential candidate Asif Ali Zardari. Earlier, Prime Minister Gilani also sought support from the parliamentarians belonging to the NWFP province for Asif Ali Zardari’s bid for the Presidency.
He hosted a luncheon in their honour at the PM House on Monday. The Senators, MNAs and MPAs from the NWFP assured their full support to Asif Ali Zardari for the strengthening democracy, bringing political harmony and further strengthening the federation. NWFP Governor Owais Ghani, Chief Minister Amir Haider Khan Hoti, ANP leader Asfandyar Wali and leader of opposition Akram Khan Durrani were also present on the occasion.