ISLAMABAD, Jan 14: The acting general secretary of Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), Mian Raza Rabbani, has stressed the need for lifting a ban on political activities in the country.

In a statement here on Monday, Mr Rabbani said after the speech of President General Pervez Musharraf, the need for holding free, fair and transparent elections in the country had become acute.

Mr Rabbani said, “Fundamentalism and terrorism take roots in a political vacuum, which presently exists in the country”. He said the regime, therefore, must set aside political and personal prejudices and desist from manipulating the electoral process. He further asked the Musharraf government to desist from subverting the political process by denying the people their democratic right to elect Benazir Bhutto. He also advised the government not to vitiate the atmosphere through PPP specific accountability process and not to undermine democracy through a controlled parliament.

“As a logical consequence and a historic necessity of events, it is imperative that an independent and autonomous election commission be constituted immediately with the consultation of all political parties, a government of national consensus is formed to hold free and fair elections paving the way for transfer of power to the elected representatives of the people, who through a national consensus, will face the extremist elements,” he said.