ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf on Monday said strengthening of parliament through free and fair elections is crucial to overcome challenges facing Pakistan.

Addressing a gathering of senior journalists at an Iftar dinner hosted at Prime Minister House, he said parliament should be strengthened and the way for it is holding of free, fair and transparent elections.

He said, “We are moving towards elections and appointment of an impartial Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) has sent a positive message to the world.”

He said the government is sincere and serious in holding fair elections as it is the right of the people to decide their next government.

"If the parliament is sovereign and vibrant, Pakistan can undoubtedly move on the path to progress and prosperity."

He said judiciary is independent and media is free and now all national institutions have to work together to make Pakistan strong.

The prime minister urged the media to guide the nation with its wisdom and power of pen and said media is free and strong and there is no possibility of rigging in election in its presence.

He said media has the role to criticize but it should also spread the ray of hope as hopelessness led to destruction of societies in the past.

Raja Pervaiz said political parties are patriotic and all of them wants that elections should be free and transparent. The only way for Pakistan Peoples Party to form a government is to participate in elections, he stressed.

He said democracy is the only time tested system through which the world has made progress otherwise countries like the United States and Europe should have adopted another way of governance.

Minister for Information and Broadcasting Qamar Zaman Kaira, Minister of State Sumsam Ali Bukhari, Secretary Information and high level officials also attended the event.