April 25, 2008	Friday	Rabi-us-Sani 18, 1429

RAWALPINDI, April 24: Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) co- chairman Asif Ali Zardari has been advised not to contest by- election from the city’s NA-55 constituency and instead allow party leader Aitzaz Ahsan to run for the National Assembly seat.

Speaking at a news conference here on Thursday, senior PPP member and former senator Sardar Salim said some advisers were misguiding Mr Zardari. He feared such advices might harm Mr Zardari in the near future.

Mr Salim said the people of Rawalpindi would welcome Aitzaz Ahsan after his decision to contest the by-polls, and claimed that the senior attorney would sweep the elections.

Meanwhile, in a statement issued here, former MPA and PPP leader Agha Riazul Islam said Mr Zardari would himself make the decision whether to contest election from Rawalpindi or not. He added that the people of Rawalpindi were “Zardari lovers”.

Mr Islam said he famous Rabia Manzil where late Benazir Bhutto had inaugurated the PPP election office, would again be declared the election office for Mr Zardari in case he contested the by-polls from Rawalpindi.