NAUDERO: The Pakistan Peoples Party has asked the government to take political parties and parliament into confidence over the talks with the outlawed Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan.

A meeting of the PPP central executive committee, presided over jointly by the party’s Patron-in-Chief, Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, and Co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari, paid tribute to the leadership of Z.A. Bhutto and Benazir Bhutto for their struggle against dictators and for the restoration of democracy, rights of the downtrodden, labourers and haris.

Briefing newsmen after the meeting, Qamar Zaman Kaira said the CEC pledged to carry forward the mission of Z.A. Bhutto in light of the party’s manifesto. “We support the government in the talks with the TTP leadership. The PPP will not compromise on its principles,” he said.

Mr Kaira said the meeting also discussed reports of threat to Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari’s life and resolved that such threats would not force the party leadership to go into hiding. The CEC asked the federal and provincial governments to initiate an investigation into the threat and punish the elements who were behind it.

The PPP criticised the federal government’s decision of sacking employees and called for its withdrawal immediately.

Mr Kaira said the CEC was satisfied with the trial of Pervez Musharraf for violator of the constitution for the first time in the country’s history and called for an urgent decision on it in accordance with law. It asked the government not to hide behind the courts and called for a fair trial.

Mr Kaira said the meeting urged the government to adopt an independent foreign policy.

The CEC endorsed the on-going dialogue with the Muttahida Qaumi Movement and other political parties and authorised Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, Asif Ali Zardari to take a decision.

The meeting backed the policies of Asif Zardari and Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari about Afghanistan.

In reply to a question, he said the Thar issue was discussed at the meeting.

The meeting decided that Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari would soon undertake countrywide tours, including Punjab, for reorganisation of the party.

Former prime minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah, Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Khursheed Shah, Rehman Malik, Aitzaz Ahsan, Sherry Rehman and Azad Kashmir Prime Minister Chaudhry Abdul Majeed were some of the prominent figures who attended the meeting.