LAHORE: Mr. Gulam Mustafa Khar, MNA-elect and Secretary General of the Punjab People’s Party, today [April 17] said his party was not in favour of holding fresh elections in the country and would boycott them if they were held. Addressing a Press conference here today he said of late certain quarters had started toeing a line that since Awami League had been banned in the country fresh elections were a must. He said these advocates of fresh elections on the one hand said that the country was facing a grave economic crisis and on the other hand called for fresh elections. “I fail to understand how fresh elections at this stage would in any way help overcome the crisis”, he said. Mr Z. A. Bhutto had clearly indicated that this party would not take part in re-elections, he added.

Mr. Khar said banning of a political party did not mean that its members elected to the Assembly were also banned. “If any member of the National Assembly elected on the outlawed Awami League ticket, expressed his intention to join People’s Party, he would be welcome provided he first dissociates himself from the defunct Awami League and its plans,” he added.

Published in Dawn, April 18th, 2021