PPP to end reconciliation policy

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) on Saturday announced to end its policy of reconciliation while adopting an aggressive tone and demanding the resignation of members of the Election Commission of Pakistan.
These announcements were made by PPP Vice President Senator Sherry Rehman while addressing a press conference, along with PPP Secretary General Sardar Latif Khosa and PPP Central Punjab President Manzoor Ahmed Wattoo, here at the Zardari House on Saturday.
Sherry Rehaman said the PPP would only contest the elections if the ECP members stepped down.
Manzoor Ahmed Wattoo said that the PPP would forge an election alliance with all the political parties except the PML-N.
The PPP said that its policy of reconciliation had damaged the party and it also formally expressed its no-confidence on the ECP’s four provincial members. He said though the PPP did not want to resort to protests, fair and transparent local government (LG) elections were not possible under the current ECP provincial members.
“All the four provincial election commissioners should have resigned immediately after the 2013 general elections,” said PPP Vice President Senator Sherry Rehman.
Senator Sherry Rehman said the ECP did not perform its duties in the 2013 elections. “After the Judicial Commission report and the Election Tribunals’ verdicts, the ECP members’ role became controversial, and free, fair and transparent elections were not possible under them.
She said that the PPP did not opt for protest on the streets or disturb the democratic transition. “We accepted the election results for the sake of democracy. We will not take part in elections until the resignation of the ECP members,” she added.
PPP Punjab Chief Manzoor Wattoo said the party held a dialogue on seat adjustment with all political parties except the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N).
He said his party leaders were being politically victimised in Sindh and Punjab and strongly condemned such actions from the federal institutions. “We fully support Operation Zarb-e-Azb,” he, however, added.
Wattoo vowed to withdraw all the PPP candidates for the upcoming LG polls if the provincial election commissioners remained on their posts.
He said the PPP would withdraw its policy of reconciliation as it had damaged the PPP. “We have requested the central leadership to revisit its policy of reconciliation,” he added.
Speaking on the occasion, former Punjab governor Latif Khosa said that the democratic spirit would be hurt without a true reflection of public vote.
He also linked the PPP’s participation in the local bodies’ elections to the resignations of ECP officials. “If you need an amendment to remove the election commission members, you must do it. The provincial ECP members should have resigned after the Judicial Commission’s report,” he added.