09 February 2005	Wednesday	29 Zilhaj 1425

CHARSADDA, Feb 8: Interior Minister Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao has said the Pakistan Muslim League, Muttahida Qaumi Movement and his faction of Pakistan People's Party will jointly contest forthcoming local bodies polls and general elections.

Speaking at a public meeting held on Tuesday in Sherpao, some 50 km from here, to mark the 30th death anniversary of Shaheed Hayat Mohammad Khan, Mr Sherpao said that the coalition government was united under the leadership of Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz.

President Gen Pervez Musharraf was to address the meeting but he could not come owing to inclement weather in Islamabad.

The venue was decorated with life-size posters of Gen Musharraf, PML President Chaudhary Shujaat Hussain, Hayat Mohammad Khan, Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao, NWFP Governor Iftikhar Hussain Shah and MPA Sikandar Hayat Sherpao.

Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly, Sardar Mohammad Yaqoob Khan, Deputy Chairman Senate, Commander Khalil Ahmed, federal ministers Rao Sikandar Iqbal, Makhdoom Faisal Saleh Hayat, Naurez Shakoor, Babar Khan Ghauri, Anisazeb Tahirkheli, Raza Hayat Hiraj and a large number of senators MNAs and MPAs attended the meeting.

Mr Sherpao said that the large gathering was a tribute to his late brother, Hayat Shaheed, who was killed in a bomb blast in the University of Peshawar on Feb 8, 1975.

He said his party believed in unity of people and a democratic order to run the country effectively, for which his party had joined the coalition government. He said the PPP had bagged more seats than any other party in the province in the previous elections and it would win more seats than others in coming elections as well.

Mr Sherpao said the president would launch the next round of his mass-contact campaign from Sherpo. President Musharraf will certainly come here in near Future", Mr Sherpao said.

PPP Chairman and Defence Minister Rao Sikandar Iqbal urged the people to work for the stability of the system which was an outcome of political arrangements worke out under the leadership of President Musharraf. He said Pakistan had come out of a difficult phase and was heading towards a prosperous future.

He said Pakistan had achieved a prominent place in the world Because of its role in the war against terrorism. Now, he added Pakistan was a stable country which could meet any challenge.

MQM leader and minister for Shipping and Ports Babar Khan Ghauri said the federation was strong and each unit was making progress owing to the wise policies of Gen Musharraf.

He said: "The credit for present democratic and political atmosphere goes to President Musharraf, Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz and his team."

PPP provincial president and the Nazim of Nowshehra said The PPP would resist any move against the local bodies system and The present political set-up in the country.

The event organizers had to drop the names many a speakers for uncertain weather, enveloping the entire province.