MULTAN: Senior Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader and former prime minister Yousaf Raza Gilani said on Sunday that parliament should complete its term and elections should be held on time.

Speaking to media after offering condolences to senior vice president of south Punjab PPP Khwaja Rizwan Alam over the death of his mother, Mr Gilani said if any conspiracy was being hatched against the government, the ruling PML-N should expose it to the masses.

He dispelled the impression that his party was playing the role of a friendly opposition.

“The PPP is not playing the role of a friendly opposition, but the party is of the view that democratic governments should complete its five-year tenure,” Mr Gilani said.

PML-N asked to take people into confidence if any conspiracy is being hatched against govt

He said that on the call of PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, party workers were holding protests to oust Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif after the JIT report.

He said the country was going through a crisis and speculations must now end to terminate this state of uncertainty.

“The Supreme Court judges should announce the Panama case judgement early to end the crisis and speculations,” the PPP leader said.

He said that all political parties were neglecting electoral reforms that were necessary to stop rigging in elections.

He said if reforms were not done, there would be allegations of rigging after every election and new JITs would be needed.

The PPP leader was of the view that issues should be settled in parliament as it was the best forum to discuss all issues, including corruption.

PPP president (south Punjab) Makhdoom Ahmad Mehmood said that PPP was the only party which had roots in south Punjab and it had always raised its voice for the rights of the people of southern Punjab.

“Efforts for the rights of the people of southern Punjab will continue,” he declared.

Published in Dawn, July 24th, 2017