KARACHI, Nov 23: Secretary General of the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal Maulana Fazlur Rahman and Asif Zardari, husband of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto, on Tuesday agreed on the need for unity among political forces
to ensure success of the struggle for democracy.
They were addressing a joint press conference after the MMA leader, accompanied by his party colleagues, had met Mr Zardari at the Bilawal House and felicitated him on his release after eight years of detention.
Maulana Fazl welcomed Mr Zardari's offer to serve as a bridge among different political forces and said that his release would have a positive impact on political dispensation.
Asked whether his meeting with Mr Zardari was a step towards forging a collaborative relationship between the ARD and the MMA, Maulana Fazl claimed that opposition parties were closer to each other and principles of cooperation on a permanent basis would be worked out so that past bickerings did not haunt future relationship.
He said the cooperation could not be termed an electoral alliance, but they could agree on a minimum agenda. Replying to a question, he said that the ARD had constituted a committee for talks with the MMA so it would not be correct to assume that he had put forward certain conditions. The committee was yet to meet the alliance, he said.
He said the real objective of political forces was a transition from the military-dominated dispensation to a democratic system. At present, he said, neither the constitution nor parliament was supreme and the retention of uniform by Gen Pervez Musharraf was an impediment towards that transition. He also recalled MMA's reservations on the National Security Council.
Mr Zardari complimented Maulana Fazl Rahman for his brotherly relations and the MMA demand for allowing Benazir Bhutto to return to Pakistan for playing her due role in national politics.
Asked whether his meeting with the MMA leader was the initiation of building bridges among political forces, Mr Zardari referred to various internal and external threats and stressed that someone must have the courage to work to evolve political harmony among political parties and the forces that mattered.
"We cannot wish away anybody," he said, adding that every political force, whether in Saudi Arabia or in jail must sit to create that harmony. Mr Zardari, who was released on Monday, called for forgetting the past and playing a political role for a better future.
Mr Zardari was of the view that general elections would be held next year but the Maulana felt that local bodies' elections would be held. He said that general elections should be held on time. Earlier in the day leaders of the PPP from various parts of the country and Azad Kashmir and of other political parties met Mr Zardari at the Bilawal House.
KARACHI, Nov 23: Secretary General of the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal Maulana Fazlur Rahman and Asif Zardari, husband of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto, on Tuesday agreed on the need for unity among political forces
to ensure success of the struggle for democracy.
