No formal talks held with govt on caretaker PM: Benazir
LARKANA, Oct 29: People’s Party chairperson Benazir Bhutto said on Monday there had been no formal talks so far with the government over the appointment of a caretaker prime minister before the general election.
“I will consult my party leaders after talks with the government on the caretaker prime minister and then a decision will be taken on the issue,’’ Ms Bhutto told a private TV channel.
“I cannot say at this stage as to who should be the caretaker prime minister in the interim set-up and will speak on the issue at an appropriate time. We want free, fair and transparent elections and there should be no improvised polling stations in the country,’’ she said.
The PPP leader said the opponents of democracy were a threat to the country, accusing them of supporting the extremists.
In reply to a question about recent statements of the PML-Q president and the Punjab chief minister, she said the future of the country lay in democracy.
“The restoration of democracy is imperative for saving the country. No single person can decide about who will be the next prime minister and only the people of Pakistan have the right to decide about it.”
She said the next government would be formed by the party that won the confidence of the people.
She said the PPP was a symbol of federation, claiming that her party had always tried its utmost to create unity, amity and worked for the welfare of the people.
In reply to a question about PML leader Nawaz Sharif, Ms Bhutto said talks for seat adjustments with the PML-N were possible because the PML-N was a democratic party.
Recalling the last two PPP-led governments, Ms Bhutto claimed that during that period the people had been ensured basic amenities such as electricity, natural gas, water supply, education, healthcare.
In reply to a question about her security, Ms Bhutto said that a suspected man had been seen sitting on top of a tree, taking snaps of her motorcade when her truck was leaving the airport.“The PPP workers tried to catch hold of him, but he fled the scene. Yesterday, too, the same man had been seen twice in Larkana and was also seen at Karsaz before the Karachi tragedy,” she said.
The PPP leader said she would continue her political activities irrespective of threats to her life.
She asked terrorists to lay down their arms and start respecting the law of the land, adding that the time had come for abandoning politics of arms.
Referring to criticism on the PPP leadership by Sindh Chief Minister Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim, she said those who were afraid of the power of the people always followed such a “disgusting path”, adding that it was beneath her dignity to pay him back.She urged all political parties to unite for a common cause, adding that it was important for all forces to wage a struggle against dictatorship and to strengthen democracy.
She said the nation had not benefited from US aid because of the absence of an elected government, adding that the people were still struggling against poverty and unemployment. She said such crises were hallmarks of dictatorships.—Agencies
Our correspondent adds: The PPP chairperson called for adopting a free market economy without monopolies so that no one was able to illegally stockpile sugar or other essential commodities for personal gains.
She said that after coming to power, the PPP would try to make a law to discourage such practices.
The PPP chief said her party would make laws for the welfare of the poor, the salaried, pensioners and senior citizens.
“We want peace in the country and an end to bloodshed so that no mother receives the body of her son in future.”
