LAHORE, March 23: Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz said here on Thursday the PML and coalition partners were working for the progress and prosperity of the country and they would win the next general elections on account of their performance. Addressing a PML workers’ convention, which also marks the advent of the centenary celebrations of the Muslim League, at Minar-i-Pakistan, he said all leaders and workers of the ruling party were “mujahids” of President Pervez Musharraf.

PML president Chaudhry Shujaat Husain, secretary-general Syed Mushahid Husain, chief ministers Pervaiz Elahi, Dr Arbab Rahim, Jam Muhammad Yousaf, NWFP PML president Engr Amir Muqam and Nilofer Bakhtiar were also among the speakers.

Governor Khalid Maqbool, federal ministers Khurshid Kasuri, Sheikh Rashid, Ejazul Haq, Wasi Zafar, Humayun Akhtar Khan, Naseer Khan, special assistant Muhammad Ali Durrani, Kashmir Committee chairman Hamid Nasir Chattha and former chief minister Manzoor Wattoo were also among the participants.

Senator Kamil Ali Agha was the stage secretary.

People from across the country had come to participate in the convention. Thousands of buses and wagons, impounded by the government, brought the people to the provincial metropolis.

In his seven-minute speech, the prime minister said the country had made remarkable progress over the past six years because of the policies given by President Musharraf. In the pre-Musharraf era, rulers were involved in loot and plunder as a result of which the economy had been bled white.

However, he said, the situation had changed after Gen Musharraf assumed power.

He said the world had great regard for a nuclear Pakistan.

About the prices of essential commodities, the prime minister said sugar, pulses, ghee and flour would be made available to the people at all utility stores at cheaper rates.

Chaudhry Shujaat praised the president for taking decisions in the larger interest of the country, although he had to face a lot of criticism for some of them.

He said Gen Musharraf was an honest leader and the PML was his team.

The PML chief said the general’s policies on Afghanistan, Iraq and the devastating earthquake had been helpful for the country.

He said his party would uproot the culture of intrigues and hypocrisy. The party would complete its elections by Aug 14 which would set an example for the general elections, he added.

Syed Mushahid said the PML was no longer a drawing-room party. He said it was a popular party capable of winning the next general elections.

He congratulated the president for test-firing a new cruise missile on the centenary celebration of the PML.

Sindh Chief Minister Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim said the PML was united under the leadership of President Musharraf. The party would re-elect him the president for another term, but it was for him to take a decision on his uniform.

“We want Gen Musharraf to continue to lead the country.”

He also moved a resolution against the blasphemous cartoons and said they had hurt the sentiments of Muslims all over the world.

Balochistan Chief Minister Jam Muhammad Yousaf said Gen Musharraf alone was capable of leading the country.

He said while the country had a number of enemies, some of them hidden, Gen Musharraf could save the federation. “We are with the president. A day will come when the PML will be in power in all provinces and at the centre.”

A resolution moved by him said the resolution of the Kashmir dispute was indispensable for peace of the region.

It praised the efforts of the government to get the Kashmiri people their rights.

Amir Muqam praised all policies given by Gen Musharraf, including his water vision and his efforts to differentiate between terrorism and a genuine freedom movement.