October 28, 2007	Sunday	Shawwal 15, 1428

LAHORE, Oct 27: Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Muhammad Ali Durrani on Saturday said the politicians with ‘imported agenda’ stood no chance in country’s politics and they will neither get votes nor be able to find candidates in the forthcoming polls.

“Only people of Pakistan and not any world power can decide about the next government. Those politicians who are active to implement ‘imported agenda’ have become irrelevant for Pakistani politics. Their designs have been exposed and they would neither get votes nor candidates for the future polls”, the minister said at a press conference here at the Pakistan Muslim League House.

PML’s Punjab secretary general Chaudhry Zaheeruddin and leaders Mian Munir, Imran Riaz and Farid Tariq Khan were also present.

“Benazir Bhutto is misfit in the Pakistani politics. Her demand for ‘imported experts’ for Karachi blasts probe exposes her obsession with everything foreign. Her bid to get political mileage by playing provincial card is no more relevant. Now she will have to rely on her ‘foreign friends’ as PML is committed to the agenda of prosperity of the masses which is relevant in this country. People are with us and the next prime minister will be from the PML,” Mr Durrani added.

Condemning Benazir Bhutto’s statement, accusing some PML leaders of planning the blasts, he said such `baseless allegations’ would harm the government efforts for political reconciliation.

“The PML government introduced transparent governance. Neither we committed malpractices nor bought Surrey Palace, nor opened off-shore accounts in foreign banks. Rather, we served the masses and the people love the PML leadership,” he claimed.

He said the ambition to be a life-long ruler of the country and run political parties under dictatorial control could not be justified under any circumstance.

Those who had arrived in the country with an ambition to become a life-long ruler and had dictatorship in their parties did not deserve to speak for democracy, he said.

He said the people preferred those leaders who believed in speaking truth and apprising them of facts. “The fact is that Pakistan has seen tremendous development during last 8 years,” he added.

The minister said the government had started reconciliation process to promote political harmony in the country and it would continue in the days to come. The people would not allow any one to the sabotage the process, he added.

He said next prime minister would be decided by the PML president Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain after consulting other party leaders after the party won the upcoming elections. However, he said, the next prime minister would be impartial and acceptable for all political forces in the country.

He said the interim set up would cater the nation’s needs and the elections would be monitored by foreign experts.

Condemning terrorism in Swat and tribal areas, the minister said the federal government had taken a strong notice of those challenging its writ.

“Terrorism is the biggest challenge being faced by the nation. This is imperative for all of us to join hands against this menace. The PML and the allied parties had floated a proposal to convene an All Parties Conference (APC) to evolve a joint strategy to save the lives of innocent people,” he said.

The minister urged the media to play its role effectively against terrorists, who, he said, were playing in the hands of enemy states.

“Those who are provoking innocent youths in the name of religion are enemies of humanity,” he said.

To a question, the minister said Election Commission of Pakistan was the authority to issue code of conduct for the elections and to implement it. He urged all political parties to help the government ensure a smooth electoral process.-—APP