11 November 2004	Thursday	27 Ramazan 1425

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

ISLAMABAD, Nov 10: Pakistan Muslim League vice-president Syed Kabir Ali Wasti has called for political harmony through dialogue between the government and the opposition.

Mr Wasti said the foremost step towards confidence building among political forces was the unconditional release of all political prisoners, including Asif Ali Zardari, Makhdoom Javed Hashmi and Yousaf Raza Gillani.

In a statement issued here Wednesday Mr Wasti urged the government to take concrete steps to address the opposition's grievances.

He said the PML had an innate strength and did not need to take shelter behind the uniform. It should display confidence and tolerance to help the president in achieving greater political harmony in the country.

He called upon both the government and the opposition parties to create a harmonious atmosphere in the country to enable President Gen Pervez Musharraf to take a dispassionate decision on the uniform issue.

Mr Wasti said the president has argued that he wanted to retain the uniform to ensure the continuity of reforms; political stability and parliamentary harmony; carry forward the dialogue process with India that has opened the way of possible resolution of the Kashmir issue; elimination of extremism and terrorism and controlling law and order in the country.

"These are lofty objectives which all patriotic people in the government and the opposition also support".

Mr Wasti, who is also PML Media Committee Chairman, said an end to current confrontation can help create such atmosphere.

The government bears greater responsibility and must take concrete steps to address the grievances of the opposition.

Nobody on either side should take it a matter of personal ego as vital national issues are involved.

The PML leader said "it is high time when Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz took the initiative and convened a round-table conference of all political and democratic forces to create a conducive political atmosphere for overcoming economic, political and geo-strategic problems faced by the nation".