LAHORE, March 11: Jamaat-i-Islami and not the Pakistan People’s Party needs to establish its democratic credentials, Mian Raza Rabbani, the PPP acting secretary general told Dawn on Monday.

He was commenting on Jamaat-i-Islami amir’s conditional offer for cooperation with the Pakistan People’s Party and the Pakistan Muslim League. Maintaining that its commitment to the restoration of democracy stood vindicated by its consistent struggle during the military regimes, he said there was no occasion for asking the PPP to make a fresh pledge. In fact, he said, the Jamaat-i-Islami, which had been supporting extra-constitutional regimes, needed to establish its credentials.

“The PPP has nothing to apologize for with reference to its struggle for the restoration of democracy and revival of the constitution,” he said. The PPP, he said, had been in the vanguard of all struggles against military dictatorships. Even at present, he said, the PPP was working for the restoration of constitution, supremacy of the law and free and fair elections.

He said the party’s record and character was enough guarantee that it would continue its struggle till the attainment of its objectives. If explanations and apologies have to be sought, he said, the shoe is on the other foot.

Nonetheless, he said, the PPP was a democratic party. “We believe that dialogue is the essence of politics. Our doors for dialogue are open, even for those baptized recently... If they repent for their sins against democracy, I am sure the people of Pakistan, who are benevolent, will forgive them.”

PML chairman Raja Zafarul Haq said he would discuss the matter at a meeting with the JI amir.