NAUDERO, April 3: PPP Secretary-General Jahangir Badr said on Thursday that time would prove that the ‘forgive and forget’ policy of the PPP and the MQM was a historic step.

He was talking to newsmen after a joint meeting of the Central Executive Committee and Federal Council of the PPP held in the Naudero House.

The meeting, held each year on the eve of the death anniversary of PPP founder Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, was presided over by PPP co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari.

Mr Badr said the PPP was taking all political forces of the country to promote national reconciliation.

He said Mr Zardari had held talks with leaders of all political parties to work jointly to bring about an economic, social and political revolution in the country.

He said the National Assembly had set an example by giving a unanimous vote of confidence to Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani.

In reply to a question, the PPP secretary general said the federal cabinet was not yet complete and all provinces would be given adequate representation in it.

Mr Badr read out a resolution adopted at the meeting paying rich tribute to Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and his brave daughter Benazir Bhutto for sacrificing their lives for the cause democracy and for the struggle for the rights of the downtrodden and the poor.

The resolution said that Ms Bhutto, following in the footsteps of her father, had continued struggle for democracy despite internal and external conspiracies, violence and betrayals and sacrificed her life for the cause of democracy and the right of the poor.

The resolution said the PPP workers and leaders felt themselves fortunate to be followers of the two great PPP leaders who commanded international respect and recognition.

The resolution also paid tribute to workers of the PPP who had sacrificed their lives for the cause of democracy and pledged never to forget the sacrifices of these workers.

The resolution also reposed confidence in the leadership of PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari.

Meanwhile, hundreds of thousands of people started arriving in Garhi Khuda Bakhsh on Thursday from all over the country to attend the grand anniversary programme and to pay homage to Zulfikar Ali Bhutto.

Besides Mr Zardari and other central leaders of the party, National Assembly Speaker Dr Fehmida Mirza and representatives of the civil society will also take part in the solemn ceremony to be hled here on Friday.

MQM DELEGATION: A five-member delegation of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) will leave for Garhi Khuda Baksh on Friday to attend the 29th death anniversary of Pakistan People’s Party founder Zulfikar Ali Bhutto.—APP