05 August 2004	Thursday	18 Jamadi-us-Saani 1425

Please Visit our Sponsor (Ads open in separate window).

LAHORE, Aug 4: The PPP-P has demanded dissolution of the existing assemblies and holding fresh elections within three months under a new caretaker government headed by the chief justice of Pakistan.

Speaking at a press conference here on Wednesday, party's Federal Council secretary and Lahore Coordination Committee (LCC) chairman Khalid Kharal argued that new elections were inevitable as the government had failed to steer the country out of political crisis it was in, maintain law and order and solve basic problems of citizens.

Mushtaq Awan and Munir Ahmad Khan were also present. Mr Kharal also demanded immediate return of the exiled leaders, Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif, for solving the prevailing crisis.

He believed that the crisis would be resolved only after the departure of Gen Musharraf from the political scene. Condemning the assassination attempts on Finance Minister Shaukat Aziz, Balochistan Chief Minister Jam Yousaf and the Karachi Corps Commander, the PPP-P leaders questioned the rulers who was responsible for this poor law and order situation.

Replying to a question regarding troops for Iraq, Mr Kharal said his party would resist any such move. If the government had any such thoughts, it should send generals and brigadiers instead of junior officers and ordinary soldiers, he added.

The PPP-P leaders said the ongoing conflict between the army and people in Wana and Balochistan was resulting in casualties on both sides. They said the government had once again created 1971 like situation when Pakistan Army killed its own people in East Pakistan after snatching their rights.