January 09, 2007	Tuesday	Zilhaj 18, 1427

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LAHORE, Jan 8: Punjab PPP President Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi sees a positive change in the thinking of the establishment towards his party, and says there are many who now think that weakening this party will mean weakening the federation and democratic institutions.

“There are elements (in the establishment) who feel that the PPP is a federal party with its support base in all federating units, has a programme, a leadership which has recognition at the national and internal levels, is liberal, progressive, moderate and enlightened, and weakening this party — as was done by Gen Zia — will mean weakening the federation and the democratic institutions,” he said while talking to Dawn at his residence on Monday.

Asked who would be the allies and rivals of the PPP in the next elections, an articulate Qureshi referred to a statement made by Ms Benazir Bhutto that there were two forces capable of forming the government — the PPP and its allies and the ISI and its allies.

“Does that mean the PPP will contest the next election against the establishment?” he was asked.

“If they refuse to give people free and fair elections,” replied Qureshi, who had assumed his new responsibilities on Nov 10.

Questioned if the PPP and Gen Musharraf could co-exist, he said: “We always look up to the Constitution and democratic norms. We don’t believe in unnecessary confrontation. We believe an honourable exit must be found (for the army). We feel that all institutions should play their role within the limits set by the Constitution. We feel that the army is a national institution which should remain above criticism. By meddling in politics, the army is bound to come under criticism, and we don’t want that any more.”

When pressed to be more specific in his answer so that the kind of future relationship between the two sides could become clearer, Qureshi said: “Time will tell.”

Asked why was not it possible for him to come up with a categorical answer at this stage, he said: “Time will tell.”

He said much depended upon the attitude of the people. There were some norms and principles for co-existence, and “within the parameters of the Constitution, we can co-exist with every institution”.

He said he was reorganising the party in Punjab on ideological lines keeping in view the philosophy of the late Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and the guidelines given by Ms Benazir. He said he had started an exercise to attract new people into the party so that the ones who had defected for “selfish reasons” could be replaced by potential candidates.

As for his close relatives’ presence in the ruling PML, Qureshi said they had exercised their choice despite repeated requests not to quit the PPP. Now, he said: “Our political paths don’t coincide any more. They have chosen to go their way, and I have chosen to go my way.”

He said people had appreciated his stand towards his relatives in the opposite camp. “They feel I have stood by my principles. My credibility has gone up in the party.”

Factionalism, people’s disenchantment with the electoral process because of manipulations and their feeling that even a struggle could not change the situation unless free and fair elections were ensured were the major challenges facing the party. He said he would tackle all these problems quite effectively.

Qureshi said anyone promoting factionalism would be discouraged, and those still engaged in such an activity would have to face a disciplinary action. He said now there would be only faction — led by Ms Bhutto.

He said he would restructure the party from the union council to the district level to enable it to meet the challenges of the present times.

When it was pointed out that from day one he was targeting the Chaudhrys and sparing Gen Musharraf, he said since he was head of the provincial organisation of the PPP his main rival was the chief minister.

In his opinion, the elections would be held during the current year, but their timing would be determined by the political events of the next three months. He said his party was making preparations for the polls. Candidates for all constituencies were being looked for and a new manifesto responsive to the present day needs was being prepared.

He said Ms Bhutto would certainly come back to Pakistan and lead the party’s election campaign.

The PPP leader said forcing the rulers to hold absolutely free and fair election under the supervision of an interim caretaker setup and an independent election commission would be a great challenge. He said the district governments and the devolved departments working under them could influence the elections, and it was for this reason that the opposition parties were demanding their suspension during the election period.

Qureshi said the ruling PML and the MMA were disunited, leaders in the PPP-Patriots were uncertain about their future, and these factors would benefit the PPP in the polls.

The PML president was no longer in a position to lead the party because of health reasons, and the provincial leadership had also failed to deliver. This, he said, would also benefit the PPP.

He was confident that in free and fair elections, the PPP would emerge as the strongest party in Punjab. He said his main objective was to win the country’s biggest province — which is doable.

Punjab, he said, was the province which had made the late Zulfikar Ali Bhutto “Quaid-i-Awam” and the country’s first truly elected prime minister.

He said the establishment had kept the PPP out of Punjab for the past 30 years, but time was now changing in favour of the party.