‘PPP to keep playing role for continuity of democracy’

LAHORE: PPP Co-chairman Asif Zardari has said the party will continue to play its role for continuity of democracy while these are the times to move with cool-headed approach without being emotional.
According to a press release, addressing the divisional coordinators and district presidents of central Punjab Saturday, Zardari observed that if the incumbent democratic government had collapsed, the fall-out would have been definitely against democracy and the people. The resultant space would have been usurped by the forces of our disliking, he maintained.
He recalled that some office-bearers were of the view that at Foundation Day occasion that new elections were a matter of few months, adding he knew the least possibility of turn of such events. He added now the same people are foreseeing elections after two years, adding time should be utilized for staging come-back of the party. He said electoral setbacks were normal in a democratic dispensation and the party had to face similar situation in the past but came to power again.
He said Sri Lankan president lost elections despite the fact that his Party had sizeable majority in parliament. Similarly, Indian Congress was defeated by the BJP whose one ideologue murdered their “Bapu”. He said his whole focus was on organization of the PPP, because once the party was organized, electables would follow it like anything and the party would enjoy wider choice.
He said he was not going to hold more rallies in the face of the security threats. He said he would however hold big rallies in KPK and Faisalabad after consultations with party leaders. He maintained that he managed to complete five years in office through policy of reconciliation by making most political parties stakeholders in the system. “I was in a position to form government in KPK but dropped the idea for the sake of the policy of reconciliation and democracy.” He observed the government of “Niazi” in KP was a failure.
Earlier, PPP Punjab President Manzoor Wattoo thanked the chairman for sparing time to meet the divisional cocoordinators and district presidents. He said he would embark on a tour of 26 districts of Punjab and four of Lahore from next month to review pace of organization of all tiers. He added he would also hold workers conventions with a view to establish direct contact with them and also address grievances. He added he would also submit a detailed report to the party top leadership, containing his assessment of the party and suggestions to make it more robust.
Divisional co-coordinators and district presidents, Roy Shah Jehan, Milk Tahir, Muhammad Mushtaq, Sardar Saleem, Zahid Zulfiqar, Zaki Chaudhry and Mr Afzal, also spoke urging the need for establishing contacts at the grassroots. They said there was dire need to mobilize the youth, women and minorities, because these segments of society had been great support for the party. They expressed resolve to complete mission of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, come what may.
Those who were sitting with the Co-chairman included Manzoor Wattoo, Tanvir Ashraf Kaira, Nadeem Afzal Chan, Jehangir Badr, Sherry Rehman, Rukhsana Bangash, Rehman Milk and Mahreen Raja. Aziz-ur-Rehmn Chan, Suhail Milk, Rana Gul Nasir, Manzoor Manke and Raja Amir were also present.
Meanwhile, PML-Q leaders led by party president Ch Shujaat Hussain called on Asif Zardari Sunday. Ch Shujaat Hussain, senior leader Ch Pervaiz Elahi, Moonis Elahi and Salik Hussain were greeted by Asif Zardari when they arrived at Bilawal House. During the meeting, views were exchanged regarding prevailing situation in the country, political circumstances and other matters of mutual interest.