LARKANA, Jan 2: The Pakistan People’s Party on Wednesday condemned the postponement of polls and reiterated its earlier call for a neutral caretaker government to hold elections.
Addressing a press conference after attending the party’s central executive committee meeting in Naudero, PPP co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari said although his party condemned the postponement, it would participate in the elections.
He said the PML-Q would not be given any “excuse to run away” from the elections. “The PPP would consult like-minded parties before taking any decision.
“The PPP would not allow anyone to dismember the country and it (country) would be saved with people’s power.”
Mr Zardari said the CEC had called for the constitution of a UN commission to probe the assassination of Ms Bhutto. “We will not join the government’s investigation team. We are contacting the heads of different countries to seek their assistance.”
He said that if elections were rigged, the “consequences” would have to be borne by the rulers. He called for release of PPP workers detained on “false charges”.
Calling the assassination of Benazir Bhutto a great loss to the nation, he said a number of world leaders had phoned him and condoled her death.
In reply to a question whether his party would work with President Pervez Musharraf if it won the elections, he said it would be premature to say anything at this stage.
He appealed to PPP workers to remain peaceful, adding that “accountability would begin in parliament with people’s mandate”.
He criticised the government over its decision to seek the Scotland Yard’s help in the investigations.
“Where was it when Ms Bhutto called for an investigation into the Oct 18 Karachi blasts by the same organisation?”
A resolution paid tribute to Ms Benazir Bhutto, calling her a brave leader of international stature.
In reply to another question about a strike call given by the All Parties Democratic Movement, Mr Zardari said the PPP would not follow its (APDM) “agenda”.
He announced that Ms Bhutto’s Chehlum would be held on Feb 7. He invited “foes and friends” to attend it.
In reply to a question whether the PPP had been contacted by the Election Commission prior to the postponement decision, he said the commission had contacted Makhdoom Amin Fahim and he opposed a deferment.
Asif Zardari was also asked whom the party would name in the FIR on the assassination. He said it involved “legal technicalities” which PPP lawyers were studying.
In reply to a question whether his party would accept Ghinwa Bhutto if she joined the PPP, he said her party and its candidates contested polls after the assassination of Mir Murtaza Bhutto.
He called for the immediate suspension of local bodies.
Yusuf Raza Gilani, Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Jahangir Badar, Aftab Shahban Mirani, Syed Qaim Ali Shah, Sherry Rehman and Jamil Soomro were also present at the press conference.
