MUZAFFARGARH, June 4: Punjab Governor Salman Taseer said on Wednesday Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari should début his electoral career from Muzaffargarh, as it had also emerged Larkana or the stronghold of the PPP in the Feb 18 elections.

Mr Taseer said this at Mirwala in Muzaffargarh where he had come to visit woman rights activist Mukhtar Mai.Talking to reporters after attending a ceremony at the Mukhtar Mai Girls Model School, the governor said as Muzaffargarh had swept all the six National Assembly and six out of 11 Punjab Assembly seats in the Feb 18 elections, it deserved a special treatment.

“Because of these results, now it is my desire that Bilawal Bhutto Zardari contest his first election from Muzaffargarh,” Mr Taseer said. The governor, who landed here at his helicopter amid tight security and all PPP MPAs, four MNAs and district and divisional officers present at Mirwala to welcome him, said it was his family visit to Mirwala as he wanted to see and pay tribute to Ms Mai. His wife Amna Taseer and daughter Shehr Bano were also with him. On the occasion, the governor received applications from PPP workers. PPP candidate for PP-258 Dr Zakaullah was also present.

Addressing the ceremony at the school, the governor announced girls’ colleges for Jatoi and Alipur and an embankment to save the areas from flooding. He also announced Rs500,000 for the Mukhtar Mai Model School from his pocket and Rs500,000 from the government.

He said the PPP government would abolish poverty in the coming days and many projects would be launched in the district.

He spoke highly of Ms Mai, saying he and his family were admirers of her for her courage to fight feudalism. He said he wished his daughter also get inspiration from Ms Mai. At his request, Ms Mai put her hand on the head of her daughter.

Earlier, addressing the ceremony, PPP MNA Qayyum Jatoi said his area lacked girls’ college and gas facility. He said every time the district stood by the PPP, and the PPP government should also take care of the area. He said the PPP government should acknowledge the mandate of the district and should not ignore it.

Ms Mai said that she was working to raise awareness among the poor people regarding their rights and spreading education free of cost.

Besides PPP MPAs and MNAs, PML-Q MPA Imran Qureshi also attended the meeting.

MULTAN: Mr Taseer said that there was no need to give importance to the statements of retired army generals because these generals always remained silent while in uniform.

Talking to reporters at Circuit House, he said lawyers had right to protest and he would facilitate their long march with water and tents.

He said that he was the first person who has greeted Mian Shahbaz Sharif on his unopposed election as member of the Punjab Assembly and would greet him again on his election as chief minister.

He said that he was not a neutral governor but a PPP representative in Punjab. He said he would try to resolve party workers’ problems.