TAXILA: Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Secretary General Nayyar Hussain Bukhari on Tuesday called for holding a joint session of parliament to evolve a sustainable policy and strategy to tackle the rapidly emerging geo-strategic situation in the region in the wake of the US withdrawal from Afghanistan.

He was talking to newsmen after offering condolence with the family of former member Punjab assembly and PPP leader Malik Shahan Hakmeen Khan over his death in Shakardara, Attock.

The PPP senator said the changing geo-strategic situation around Pakistan’s western border needed immediate strategy to meet the challenges.

He said all stakeholders have to play their role in the changing scenario as no peace could be achieved without peace in Afghanistan.

Mr Bukhari expressed doubts over transparency in the forthcoming elections in Azad Kashmir, saying the prime minister and his associates were carrying out electioneering of their party candidates besides distributing funds and utilising resources.

He said the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) should ensure fair and transparent elections. He alleged that many refugee voters had been removed from the electoral list.

“We want the ECP to play its role.” He, however, claimed that the PPP would secure its due share in the AJK elections.

Responding to a question about Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM), he said it was the PPP which had founded the PDM. He said without participation of major parties like PPP and ANP, it could be an anti-government alliance, not PDM.

Published in Dawn, July 14th, 2021