KARACHI, Feb 12: A majority of political and religious parties is busy giving final shape to their manifestos for the forthcoming general elections in the country.

Benazir Bhutto’s Pakistan People’s Party has prepared its manifesto and giving final touches to it, Muttahida Qaumi Movement of Altaf Hussain is thrashing out various points to finalize its agenda, while the Pakistan Muslim League (N), Jamaat-i-Islami and other religious parties are expected to complete their manifesto-related works by the end of this month.

Most of the parties do not need any extra work as they require some minor modifications in their present manifestos.

Almost all the political parties have laid special focus on their manifestos, which they are expected to make public after unveiling of a clear electoral policy by President Musharraf during which he would also give final date for the elections.

It was transpired after talking to different political parties, including PPP, PML, MQM who command considerable influence among the masses, that on account of major changes by the present government they had no choice but to amend their manifestos as introduction of major electoral reforms and overall situation of the country in the post 11 September events have forced them to change their overall strategies.

The PPP has replaced its much publicized roti, kapra aur makan with a new electoral slogan — employment for all. A spokesman for the PPP, who is also one of the members of the party’s manifesto committee with acting general secretary Mian Raza Rabbani as chairman, claimed that they had prepared the manifesto six months ago and now were making some minor changes in accordance with the need of the hour.

“The elderly and ailing people of the society who are unable to earn their livelihoods would be given social security, enabling them to earn a decent living,” he maintained.

A PML spokesman said party president Nawaz Sharif had decided to constitute a nine-member committee to oversee party affairs which would be headed by Raja Zafarul Haq.

“After the formation of the committee by end of the current month, it will meet in the near future and the present manifesto would be redrafted”.

He asserted that the PML-N was the only party in the county, which had implemented its manifesto after coming to power.

According to a JI central leader, the manifesto of the party had already been updated.

A spokesman for the Muttahida Qaumi Movement said that at a recent meeting of the coordination committee, various points relating to the manifesto were discussed. He said members of the committee focussed on what should be the next line of action if the government announced further changes in its system of governance.—PPI