KARACHI, July 23: The Pakistan People’s Party has said it will participate in the October general elections in all circumstances to foil the government’s objectives to keep the party and its leadership out of politics.
The decision was announced by PPP deputy secretary-general Mian Raza Rabbani on Tuesday at a press conference at the Bilawal House after over four-hour deliberations by the party’s central executive committee (CEC).
The CEC meeting, which was presided over by vice-chairman Makhdoom Amin Faheem, had not concluded its deliberations when Mr Rabbani briefed newsmen on the lawn of the house.
Referring to the proposed clause in Article 63 of the Constitution and the Political Parties Order 2002, he said all these were black laws contrary to fundamental rights.
He reiterated the determination of his party not to leave the field open and said: “Like always we will meet the challenge with full might of the people. Let them enforce whatever laws they like to debar the party and its leadership from the ring, we have decided to foil all these conspiracies. Our hands are clean and we will continue to strive to fight back legally and hopefully the people will emerge victorious.”
He said there is no law in existence which can debar Benazir Bhutto from contesting election to the parliament and from leading the party.
“The PPP, which last held elections in 1997 for five-year term, has now decided to hold intra-party polls in protest to meet the requirement of the PPO 2002. The date of completion of the intra-party election will be announced along with election schedule on Thursday. However, it is clear that the date of compliance will be within the given timeframe.”
Mr Rabbani said there should be no doubt on account of party leadership. “Benazir Bhutto continues to be the chairperson of the party today and will also be leading it tomorrow.”
He also referred to certain measures of the government which he termed pre-poll rigging. “We have taken serious notice of it and reviewed the situation that how the Governor’s House is being used for electioneering purpose, the manner of transfers and postings of officials without taking the Nazimeen into confidence and how civil administration is being used to favour the king’s party.
According to him the regime has adopted three procedures: rigging through politics, rigging through laws and rigging through administration. The PPP leader said the party is preparing a white paper to expose the three ways. It will be made public within four to five days.
Responding to questions, Mr Rabbani said Ms Bhutto would return to take part in the elections after announcement of the elections schedule. But, her date of return would be decided by the CEC, he added.
He said the PPP secretariat in London had received an invitation from the government to meet Gen Pervez Musharraf for exchange of views on the proposed constitutional package. A decision in this regard, he added, would be taken after consultation with other component parties of the ARD.
it is too early to talk about electoral alliance or on adjustment of seats with other parties as at the moment the PPP is seized with election preparations, he maintained.
He said Ms Bhutto had never talked about possibility of a deal with Pervez Musharraf, what she had said was that talks could be held on the modalities to form a government of national consensus and on holding fair and free elections.
Mr Rabbani said the only contact with the government was that the party had received the invitation. He said the party had been considering whether the conviction of Benazir Bhutto should be challenge in the court.
