September 23, 2007	Sunday	Ramazan 10, 1428

KARACHI, Sept 22: Pir Pagara, the president of the PML-F and spiritual head of the Hurs, on Saturday announced his full support to the re-election of President Pervez Musharraf.

He announced his “unflinching support” at a meeting with Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz here at Kingri House.

The prime minister, who flew in here from Islamabad in the afternoon, drove straight to Kingri House, where he held a 45-minute one-to-one meeting with Pir Saheb.

Later talking to newsmen, the prime minister said Pir Saheb assured his full support in the president’s election and cooperation during the general election.

When asked whether Maulana Fazlur Rehman would cooperate with the government, the prime minister told the newsman to put that question to the Maulana.

“We believe in national political reconciliation,” Mr Aziz said and added: “We want cooperation by all for the country’s benefit”.

He said those who believed in negative politics, would not do any good to the country and would rather cause damage to it.

“It is negative politics,” he remarked when asked about his views on the opposition’s resignation plan. He said those who did not foresee their success in the election were pursuing the resignation path.

“We need positive thinking as we have to strengthen the country and democratic traditions,” he said.

Mr Aziz deplored that the politics of resignations was being pursued by those who had taken part in law-making. “They are the ones who had taken part in carrying out the 17th amendment to the constitution and now they are talking about politics of resignations.”

He said the people of Pakistan were now politically very conscious and aware that those people who passed the amendment law today had forgotten what they had done then.

Replying to newsmen’s questions about his unconditional support, Pir Pagara said his party had always supported the government and there was nothing new about it.

When asked as to what was the reason for his support, the PML(F) chief repeated that he had always been with the GHQ and he would help them in all conditions.

He told a questioner that President Pervez Musharraf was sure to win, whether in uniform or without it.

He said that whether or not the PPP supported the president, he would be through in the election.

In reply to a question, Pir Pagara said those who were talking about resignations did not want to see the country stable and were trying to create impediments in its progress.—APP