Co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari has accepted the unanimous decision of the PPP Central Executive Committee (CEC), Parliamentary parties in national and provincial assemblies for his candidature for the slot of President of Pakistan in the name of Shaheed Benazir Bhutto.
"Party Central Executive put a unanimous draft in front of Asif Zardari asking him to contest Presidential election, and he accepted it under immense pressure from party cadres", said Senator Raza Rabbani, Leader of the House in Senate while addressing a press conference at Zardari House. Information Minister Sherry Rehman, and Labour Minister Khursheed Shah were also present on the occasion.
He said that on September 6, Asif Ali Zardari will return as President of Pakistan by the huge vote. He said that Pervez Musharraf was the source of all ills and evils and now when he has gone the ruling coalition will make efforts to address the problems caused due to wrong policies of the dictator.
After resignation of Pervez Musharraf due to unprecedented struggle of democratic forces and clear verdict of people of Pakistan, the presidential slot became vacant, said Raza Rabbani, adding that it is Constitutional requirement to hold elections in 30 days. "We have announced the schedule and nominated Asif Zardari as unanimous candidate of the Party", he said.
To a question, Raza Rabbani said the PPP took other coalition partners on board for the nomination of Asif Ali Zardari. He said that PPP's delegation met Nawaz Sharif on Saturday morning and PML-N chief said that after consulting party Central Executive he will reach out any decision.
Raza said that PPP always struggled for democracy, supremacy of Constitution and rule of law, and it has sacrificed two leaders during this struggle. "The PPP remained stuck to the working class and poor of the country and always made efforts to resolve all their problems", he added.
It was result of the joint struggle of people and political forces that country got rid of the dictator, Raza said, adding that it was for the first time in country's history that a dictator was forced to resign and it was victory of democracy. "In past there is no such precedent of removing dictator while dictators always packed democratic forces", he maintained.
He said this was a historic turn of Pakistan. "Now no dictator will ruin Constitution and democratic institution of the country, as the people and their votes have proved fatal for dictatorship", he added.
To another question regarding the Article 58 (2)b and holding of post of the co-chairman by Asif Zardari, Raza said the PPP is a democratic party and all these decisions will be taken after Presidential election. "I assure that every decision will be democratic", he said.
On restoration of judiciary, Raza Rabbani flatly denied to give any time-frame to reinstate the deposed judges. "We have promised to reinstate judges, but will not give any particular time frame, but assure you that judges will be restored", he maintained.
He dispelled the impression of differences among the leadership of the ruling coalition, saying that the leadership is well aware of the present situation, which demands a unanimous stand to bail out the country from present economic, political and law and order crises.
Rabbani said that ruling coalition is keen to resolve the issues related to price-hike, power shortage, economic crisis. After the assassination of Benazir Bhutto, party leadership respected the will of the slain leader and elected Asif Zardari as co- chairman and Bilawal Bhutto Zardari as chairman of the party to lead it at this crucial time when dictatorial rule had caused damages to country's socio-economic fabric.
"Zardari heroically led the party in struggle against Musharraf, besides he brought other democratic forces close and formed an alliance of democracy loving people", Raza said.
He said there were many occasions when rumourmongers predicted the collapse of the coalition, but the coalition leadership realised the gravity of the situation and remain stick to the cause of democracy and rule of law.
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