KARACHI: PPP critical of Musharraf’s indulgence in PML affairs
By Our Reporter
KARACHI, May 11: Pakistan Peoples Party Parliamentarians chief Makhdoom Amin Fahim on Wednesday expressed lack of confidence in the present Chief Election Commissioner and said the CEC could only restore his credibility if he took notice of Gen Pervez Musharraf’ indulgence in party politics and acted accordingly.
Speaking at a news conference at the residence of Sindh PPP Secretary General after his three-day visit to India, Amin Fahim categorically stated that under the present dispensation, there cannot be free, fair and transparent election and alleged that matters were deliberately being confused by the ruling coalition according to a pre-planned strategy.
In order to save the country from catastrophe and strengthen democracy, PPP chairperson Benazir Bhutto and PML-N chief Mian Nawaz Sharif would meet again in London on Sunday to discuss charter of democracy threadbare for ending dictatorship of one man, he said.
He said that after finalization of the document, it would be placed before ARD components in London, probably next month, to give final approval to the charter that would provide a road-map for the restoration of democracy in Pakistan.
Amin Fahim, who proceeded to London tonight to attend May 12 meeting between Nawaz Sharif and Ms Bhutto dispelled the perception that Charter of Democracy would be singed by the two leaders when they meet in London. The correct situation, he said, was that the leaders of two parties would meet to discuss the draft of charter of democracy clause-by-clause After giving final shape to the Charter, it would be placed before the ARD Forum for approval, he added.
Amin Fahim said the main objective of London meeting was restoration of undiluted democracy, to get rid of dictatorship and the uniform for which struggle would be waged at all levels.
He said the purpose of this exercise was to bring all democracy loving forces on board to get rid of dictatorship. He further said the aim of the document would be to bind political parties to honour electoral mandate of other parties and respect each other instead of indulging in confrontation and polarization.
Makhdoom Amin Fahim stated that contradictory statements about elections only give credence to the apprehension that elections would not be free and fair. He said that Gen Musharraf’s presence in the ruling coalition party meetings also created doubts about the government’s intentions. He said that Musharraf’s acts were contrary to his oath as spelt out in the constitution.
He condemned lathi-change on protesting workers of Dadu and Thatta Sugar mills near Governor House and said that only a barbaric government could do so. If a government representing aspirations of majority of the people would have been in power, it would have indulged in dialogue to iron out difficulties, rather than unleashing baton-charge and injuring many. He also deplored demolition of goths and uprooting residents there. He was confident that if free, fair and transparent elections were held, the PPP would again come into power because, according to him, it enjoyed support of the masses.
He told a questioner that turning ARD into election alliance had not yet been talked about.
Syed Qaim Ali, President Sindh PPP also explained the situation with regard to demolition and accused the government of deliberately perusing anti-people policies in league with the land mafia.
About his three-day visit to India, Amin Fahim said it was very fruitful in enhancing people-to-people contact between the two countries. The visit was at the invitation of the Indian Congress party, he said.
He emphasized that the peace process between the two countries would gain impetuous only under a democratically elected civilian government in Pakistan.
Makhdoom Amin Fahim said that during the visit his delegation emphasized the need for forgetting the past and removing irritants, for resolving all issues, including Kashmir issue. He said the PPP had been advocating tri-partite talks between India, Pakistan and representatives of Kashmiris from either side of the Line of Control.
The PPP leader said that the PPP delegation met the Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and both sides condemned terrorism and stressed the need for promoting harmony.
He said the visit was aimed at eliminating social evils, including poverty, unemployment and illiteracy. He said the meetings with L.K. Advani and Jaswant Singh were held in a cordial atmosphere. “The basic objective of their visit is to further bolster bilateral relations.”
When asked whether a civilian government would resolve the issues in a better way, Fahim said: “Definitely, the government which comes to power through people’s support would do that.”
Earlier, Maulana Dr Ajmal Qadri, the chief of his faction of (JUI-Q) and Sajjadanasheen Dargah Sheranwala Sharif, declared support for Benazir Bhutto’s policies and condemned regime’s policy of vindictiveness and political victimization.
Divisional president PPP Rashid Rabbani, general secretary Rafique Engineer MPA, Makhdoom Jameel-uz-zaman MPA, Waqar Mehdi and others also present on the occasion.
