March, 23 2005	Wednesday	12 Safar 1426

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ISLAMABAD, March 22: The government took Pakistan People’s Party (Patriots) into confidence before negotiating with opposition parties for reconciliation, party president Aftab Ahmed Sherpao told a press conference here on Tuesday. After conclusion of the PPP’s first central executive committee meeting, he said no leader of his party would join the People’s Party Parliamentarians in his or her individual capacity.

However, in case of any change in the political setup in the country, the whole party could negotiate for alliance with any other party, he added. Responding to a question, Mr Sherpao, who is also the interior minister, said his party leaders and workers had some reservations and Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz would be apprised of these in a meeting to be held in the near future.

He said the CEC also discussed the government bid for reconciliation with the opposition parties and observed that if they were ready to reconcile they should inform the people about the government demands they had to fulfil.

Mr Sherpao said his party supported all the policies and decisions of President Gen Pervez Musharraf and the prime minister.

Talking about the local government polls, the Patriots chief said his party had a right to nominate its own candidates for the LG polls and it would ask the government to give it its due share and representation in the system.

“The coming local government polls would be a stepping stone for the next general elections,” he added.

The PPP (Patriots) demanded of the government that local government elections be held on non-party basis.

Responding to a question about Balochistan situation, Mr Sherpao said the issue should be resolved politically through dialogue but the law enforcement agencies should retaliate if they or vital national installations were attacked by the miscreants.

Earlier, the party’s central executive committee presented its recommendations lauding the government efforts towards stabilizing Pakistan-India relations.

However, it was of the view that without taking Kashmiris into confidence a permanent solution to the Kashmir issue could not be found.

The CEC appreciated the government efforts to provide justice and security to the suppressed women.

It expressed sorrow over the loss of life and property in Balochistan and the North West Frontier Province due to recent torrential rains, and demanded of the government to provide maximum help to the people of the affected areas.