KARACHI: The Pakistan People’s Party has warned that any unconstitutional measure taken to resolve the current crisis will be detrimental to democracy and stability of the state.

The PPP, whose senior leaders met in Dubai on Wednesday night to discuss the political situation in the country, said that long overdue electoral reforms needed to be taken up by the parliamentary committee and completed after broad consultation within a specified period.

The meeting, attended by the party’s co-chairperson and former president Asif Ali Zardari and Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, reiterated that the crisis be resolved through dialogue and within the framework of the Constitution.

According to a press release issued from Bilawal House, the party expressed concern over what it called short-sighted and high-handed tactics of the government and urged all parties in the conflict to resolve the issues without recourse to further violence and disruption of public life in the capital and the country.

The PPP members condemned ‘brutal murders’ in Lahore’s Model Town on June 17 and demanded that an FIR be expeditiously registered in accordance with the law.

The co-chairperson noted with concern that instead of focusing on providing relief to people of North Waziristan displaced by the ongoing operation against terrorism, both the provincial and federal governments had entangled themselves and Pakistan in a protracted dispute that was avoidable.

He lauded the services and sacrifices of the brave soldiers combating terrorists and hoped that the country would soon be rid of this menace.

Taking note of the changes taking place in the region and in the Middle East, Mr Zardari expressed concern over which he called the unfolding meltdown and disunity in certain parts of the Muslim world.

He praised the services of former prime minister Yousuf Raza Gilani and sacrifices rendered by his family for the party and democracy.

The party demanded that the kidnapped sons of Yousuf Raza Gilani and late Salman Taseer be recovered as soon as possible.

The meeting recalled the sacrifices of Z.A. Bhutto and Benazir Bhutto and party workers who laid down their lives in order to keep the flame of democracy burning.

Published in Dawn, August 22nd, 2014