Raja_Pervez_Ashraf_File_670
Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf. - File Photo

ISLAMABAD: Politicians and lawmakers made a beeline on Friday for the Prime Minister’s House to celebrate PPP candidate’s victory in the important Multan by-poll and congratulate Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf over the morale-booster days prior to his test in the NRO implementation case in the Supreme Court.

Those who called on the prime minister included PML-Q chief Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain and Deputy Prime Minister Chaudhry Pervez Elahi, Awami National Party’s members of parliament led by Senator Haji Adeel, Commerce Minister Makhdoom Amin Fahim and former Senator and JUI-F leader Rehmatullah Kakar.

The prime minister was upbeat over the Multan by-polls victory. Acknowledging the sentiments of the coalition partners over the winning of by-election, he said the PPP candidate defeated the joint opposition candidate who had the support of major opposition political parties.

He said that hotly-contested election clearly manifested the PPP popularity among the people of the country and was the most popular federal party of the country.

The prime minister said the PPP was a truly federal party, which had broad-based support across the country and indeed was a great national asset. “No other party on the political landscape of the country has such a wide-ranging support in the country as the PPP,” he said.Chaudhry Shujaat and Chaudhry Pervez Elahi congratulated the prime minister on the electoral victory of the PPP candidate. Chaudhry Shujaat said the victory amply reflected the expression of people’s trust in the leadership of the party and the incumbent democratic coalition government.

He said that it was a matter of satisfaction and all were happy that the election in Multan was fair and free by any standards.

He said the Chief Election Commissioner-designated was a man of integrity and his selection for the top job in the Election Commission through consensus would pave the way for free, fair and impartial elections in the country.

He expressed his satisfaction over the successful visit of the prime minister to Afghanistan, adding that the outcomes of bilateral and trilateral talks between Pakistan, Afghanistan and the UK were truly heart warming for the people of the three countries.

The prime minister thanked Chaudhry Shujaat and Chaudhry Pervez Elahi for their sentiments and said that together we would surmount the challenges facing democracy and in this regard the support of PML-Q was of immense value.

The prime minister said that his visit to Afghanistan was truly successful as it provided an opportunity to reiterate Pakistan’s unequivocal support for the political peace and reconciliation process which was Afghan-led and Afghan-owned.

The ANP legislators congratulated the prime minister for winning the by- election in Multan and said that the electoral win was truly a morale boosting for the coalition partners in general and the PPP in particular.

They reiterated their unwavering and consistent support to the coalition government which had been bracing the challenges with courage, fortitude and pragmatism while upholding the best parliamentary practices.

The prime minister appreciated the valuable and solid support extended by the ANP, adding that the leadership of the PPP and he himself was proud of their steadfastness as at no stage did they even give the slightest impression of reluctance in this regard.

The prime minister made special mention of ANP’s struggle against terrorism and extremism in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, adding that the party had successfully combated the menace by stopping its spill-over effect from hitting the rest of the country.

He said that the ANP’s resolve and determination against the evil was as strong as a rock despite losses of lives and properties. The ANP delegation told the prime minister that Asfandyar Wali Khan could not attend the meeting because of his illness and the doctors had advised him complete bed rest for another two weeks.

The prime minister inquired after the health of Mr Khan and prayed for his early recovery.

The prime minister said that his meeting with the political leadership of Afghanistan was substantive and productive because it provided an opportunity to dispel mutual misperceptions, which could have deepened without the direct engagement.

The prime minister said the Afghan political leaders had immense good will for Pakistan and its people and considered them their great well wisher.

The prime minister said that he had invited them to visit Pakistan to meet the political leaders of Pakistan and all of them accepted his invitation.

He said that he was of the firm view that engagements at the government, political and peoples levels were of great importance because understanding reached in this way would surely have lasting effects and the chances of misunderstanding would be reduced.

He appreciated the decision of the Afghan government to grant multiple visas to businessmen of Pakistan who were facing problems in this regard.

The announcement was made by Afghan President Hamid Karzai yesterday during his joint press conference with Premier Raja Ashraf in the Presidential Palace.

Opinion

Editorial

‘Source of terror’
Updated 29 Mar, 2024

‘Source of terror’

It is clear that going after militant groups inside Afghanistan unilaterally presents its own set of difficulties.
Chipping in
29 Mar, 2024

Chipping in

FEDERAL infrastructure development schemes are located in the provinces. Most such projects — for instance,...
Toxic emitters
29 Mar, 2024

Toxic emitters

IT is concerning to note that dozens of industries have been violating environmental laws in and around Islamabad....
Judiciary’s SOS
Updated 28 Mar, 2024

Judiciary’s SOS

The ball is now in CJP Isa’s court, and he will feel pressure to take action.
Data protection
28 Mar, 2024

Data protection

WHAT do we want? Data protection laws. When do we want them? Immediately. Without delay, if we are to prevent ...
Selling humans
28 Mar, 2024

Selling humans

HUMAN traders feed off economic distress; they peddle promises of a better life to the impoverished who, mired in...