PPP, JUI-F, ANP on same page over Senate polls: Zardari

ISLAMABAD: The Co-chairman of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), Asif Ali Zardari, and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman on Sunday opposed the proposed 22nd Amendment and decided to go for broader cooperation in the upcoming Senate elections and the post-Senate election political scenario.
In a luncheon meeting hosted by Fazl, both the leaders decided to oppose the proposed 22nd Amendment and conveyed their decision to the government.It was the second meeting between the two. The first meeting was held at a dinner hosted by Zardari in honour of Fazlur Rehman on Saturday night. On Sunday, Fazl invited Zardari to a luncheon meeting.
The two leaders discussed the proposed 22nd Amendment and the JUI-F and PPP coalition in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP).Talking to newsmen after his meeting with Fazl at the Ministers Enclave here, Zardari said the PPP had accepted the 2013 election results with reservations and would release a white paper on it very soon.
“Everyone knows how the elections were held. The PPP accepted the results with reservations, but helped Nawaz Sharif for the cause of democracy,” he added.Zardari said the PPP opposed the 22nd Amendment and always supported democracy. “We are determined to let democracy flourish in the country,” he vowed. He said one must always be humble while in power.
Commenting on his meeting with Fazl, Zardari said: “It is time for the Senate election and we also exchanged views about it.”The former president further said the PPP, Awami National Party (ANP) and JUI-F were on the same page on the Senate election and were making efforts to also rope in Aftab Sherpao.
To a question, he said the PPP had no objection to the constitutional reforms but the amendment to the Constitution could not be made in a day or two.Zardari also dismissed rumours about differences with Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, saying what differences could be between a father and son when there was only one son. “Such rumours of differences are childish,” he added.
To another question about the allegations of his ex-close friend Dr Zulfiqar Mirza against him, Zardari said there was a saying of Hazrat Ali (RA) that one must stay away from a person whom one has done some good.
On another question about the return of PTI to parliament, Zardari said it was not the PPP’s responsibility to bring them back to power but those who were in power.Fazl ruled out any major agenda of the meeting, saying, they had just discussed the present political situation.
Our Peshawar Bureau report adds: Co-chairman PPP Asif Ali Zardari on Sunday contacted the Jamaat-e-Islami head Sirajul Haq to discuss the political situation and the Senate election.A source said the PPP and JI chiefs discussed political issues, particularly those pertaining to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the March 5 Senate election.
Siraj is the JI candidate for the Senate from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He has requested all the political parties to make efforts to prevent horse-trading in the Senate election.