Polls on time ! President Zardari

KARACHI –President Asif Ali Zardari has reaffirmed that elections will be held on time, without a delay of a single day as stipulated in the Constitution, saying those who were seeking postponement of elections were frustrated. According to presidential spokesperson Senator Farhatullah Babar, President Zardari felicitated Prime Minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, the coalition partners, the opposition, civil society and media for their role in peacefully dispersing the demonstrators from Islamabad. No one will be allowed to derail the election process on any pretext, the president said. He said that the peaceful resolution of the issue without use of force was a triumph of democracy and reconciliation.

It is a vindication of the policy of reconciliation of Shaheed Benazir Bhutto that has been vigorously pursued by the government, he said.“Democracy and reconciliation have won. The unity shown by democratic forces in safeguarding democracy is most laudable that needs to be preserved and strengthened.”The president complimented the interior ministry for deftly handling the situation in maintaining law and order and keeping the demonstrators safe from security threats. They exhibited commendable restraint, Babar quoted the president as saying.The president also congratulated all those involved in negotiations for their skill and perseverance in successfully concluding the negotiations. Separately, chairing a meeting of party’s office bearers of Hyderabad district at Bilawal House on Friday, President Zardari ruled out the delay in the elections and made it clear that the elections will be held on time.

The president directed the participants of the meeting to come in close contacts and start election preparations by organizing public gathering in their constituencies as polls will be held in April or first week of May. PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah, PPP Hyderabad President and provincial minister Zahid Bhurgari and MNA Amir Ali Shah were among the attendants of the meeting.Zardari expressed his displeasure over the differences among the party office bearers in the district, directing them to refrain from creating problems.Sources said that party office bearers also shared their issues with the president and party chairman, besides appraising them of nationalist parties’ anti-PPP campaign on local government law. The PPP co-chairman asked them to defend the law at all costs.

He also directed the CM to complete the on-going development projects before the announcement of polls.Bilawal Bhutto Zardari announced that he would soon visit Hyderabad and other districts to meet the party office bearers and public.

The president instructed the CM to maintain the law and order in the province especially in Karachi after the killing of MQMMPA Syed Manzar Imam and ensure the arrest of killers.