LAHORE, March 2: Sindh PPP Secretary General Nafees Siddiqui says his party wants fresh elections during the current year to give the country a representative setup.

Talking to Dawn on Wednesday, he said after having been isolated at the international level, Gen Pervez Musharraf would have to seek support from a liberal party like the PPP and accept the demand for fresh polls.

The PPP leader said Gen Musharraf was bound to make the ongoing contacts between the two sides a success for his own political interests. Mr Siddiqui said the PPP wanted to take all progressive and liberal forces along for the sake of a strong political system.

In response to a question, he said the PPP was opposed to the 17th amendment and wanted it scrapped immediately. He said Mr Zardari would change the political situation in Punjab after return to Pakistan on March 16. He is scheduled to land at the Lahore Airport and the party plans to give him a befitting welcome.

JOINS PPP: Ex-Khanewal MPA Malik Arshad Maitla on Wednesday joined the PPP, saying this was the only party which could solve problems facing the country. He announced his decision at a news conference in the presence of Punjab PPP President Qasim Zia, Secretary General Rana Aftab, Information Secretary Naveed Chaudhry and others.

The PPP leaders welcomed the decision. Thereafter, he said, Ms Bhutto would also come to Pakistan to lead the party's election campaign. He claimed that many people were approaching the PPP to join the party.

Mr Siddiqui said the situation was changing fast and the PPP was gaining popular support. In the new elections, he said, the PPP would emerge as the majority party in all four provinces.

Opinion

Editorial

More than words
Updated 04 Apr, 2025

More than words

Holistic development can only work when there is organic and credible political activity in the province.
Poor publicity
04 Apr, 2025

Poor publicity

FORTUNE does not seem to be favouring the PTI — at least not yet. With the party’s founder confined from public...
Party pooper
04 Apr, 2025

Party pooper

INDIA’s role of a spoilsport is tiresome. From pulling books from shelves, such as Wendy Doniger’s The Hindus: ...
Canal unrest
Updated 03 Apr, 2025

Canal unrest

With rising water scarcity in Indus system, it is crucial to move towards a consensus-driven policymaking process.
Iran-US tension
03 Apr, 2025

Iran-US tension

THE Trump administration’s threats aimed at Iran do not bode well for global peace, and unless Washington changes...
Flights to history
03 Apr, 2025

Flights to history

MOHENJODARO could have been the forgotten gold we desperately need. Instead, this 5,000-year-old well of antiquity ...