LAHORE, Aug 28: Punjab leadership of the Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaaf (PTI) on Tuesday claimed the party would emerge tall in the forthcoming elections because of its `growing popularity’ owing to the courageous stance taken by chairperson Imran Khan on different national issues.

Speaking at a provincial party meeting, Punjab president Ahsan Rasheed and general secretary Amin Zaki said the demand for prosecution of the MQM leaders was one of the major steps the party chief had taken to rid the country of ‘political terrorism’ which had taken the people of urban Sindh hostage. They claimed the Scotland Yard had made meaningful progress on the allegations levelled by Imran Khan and the people would soon hear ‘good news’ from the UK.

The PTI office-bearers opposed the Pakistan People’s Party’s talks with the regime and said the party was bound to lose politically. They were of the view that even if the PPP leadership succeeded in brokering a deal with the regime and formed the government, it would not be able to work independently and be following the dictates from Washington.

They said the ruling party and its coalition partners had lost political as well as moral ground in supporting the re-election of Gen Musharraf from the same assemblies in uniform. They said the opposition parties were determined to cooperate with each other for a democratic struggle as democracy alone was the answer to all ills plaguing Pakistan.

Farzana: Confrontation with the army at this juncture could precipitate a civil war and the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) was trying to restore democracy and rule of law by holding a dialogue with the government, MPA Farzana Raja, the Punjab PPP information secretary, said in a statement on Tuesday.