LAHORE: Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf invited opposition parties to join him in early selection of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) to ensure transparent, free and fair election in the country.

“The opposition should come forward to the selection of CEC which is vital for the smooth and reliable electoral process ahead,” said the prime minister while addressing the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Punjab chapter’s meeting at the Governor's House here on Friday.

The prime minister rejected politics of confrontation amongst the institutions and political parties, adding that it was detrimental to the cause of democracy including the opposition as well as institutions in the country.

He said that all institutions could play their positive role by working within their constitutionally defined ambit.

The premier said that the PPP would continue to follow politics of reconciliation in the light of the vision of Benazir Bhutto, the Charter of Democracy (CoD) ensured to respect mandate of all political parties.

“I hold the governments of Punjab, Sindh, KPK and Balochistan in high esteem and respect their mandates,” he added.

The prime minister welcomed Punjab government's gesture of officially receiving him on his arrival in the provincial metropolis.