Upcoming general election: Prime Minister invites opposition to settle contentious disputes

Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf on Friday invited opposition to sit with the government and settle issues for holding of free, fair and transparent elections. Addressing workers of Pakistan Peoples Party at an Iftar dinner here at Prime Minister House, he said, "instead of levelling allegations and disfiguring faces of each other, we should sit together and resolve issues as was done in the case of appointment of Chief Election Commissioner."
He said people will decide fate of political parties in the elections and whatever decision they will make, it will be the right verdict. "We depend on the people and they are with Pakistan Peoples Party." He expressed confidence that PPP will emerge victorious in the next elections. He assured that elections would be held in a free, fair and transparent manner.
The time for elections has approached and Pakistan Peoples Party and its workers are ready to participate in the polls. "Election is the field of PPP and we are always ready for it." He said PPP government is making preparations for the elections will all sincerity.
He said Co-Chairman Pakistan Peoples Party Asif Ali Zardari has instructed that leaders and workers of PPP begin contacting people in their areas and resolve their problems. He underscored the need for healthy politics saying everybody should shun character assassination, abusive language and fighting in politics. The Prime Minister said PPP is confident of its political future as it has served the people in its four years.
When PPP and its allies formed government in 2008, there was shortage of flour but now due to its policy the country has achieved food security, he added. Salaries and pensions were increased and PPP and allies stood together and flag of Pakistan was hoisted again after it was taken down by terrorists, he added.
He said despite all the mud slinging, media trials and propaganda, people are still connected to PPP and they have a romance with the philosophy of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Benazir Bhutto. The Prime Minister said PPP has a history of unprecedented sacrifices and the great leaders Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Benazir Bhutto embraced martyrdom for the rights of people and democracy.
It is uniqueness of PPP that it initiated the vision of political reconciliation and President Asif Ali Zardari took forward this vision and did not compromise on principles, he added. Raja Pervez said PPP was removed from power through conspiracies and its detractors were surprised when it made a come back with the support of people even after the suppression at the hands of dictators.
According to the petition filed by Asghar Khan in Supreme Court, money was distributed among political leaders to defeat PPP in elections, he reminded. PPP won elections in Azad Kashmir, Gilgit Baltistan and bye elections in various parts of the country, he added.
The Prime Minister said programme of PPP was to give self- respect to people. He advised political parties to put their programmes before people without getting into conflict with each other so they can serve the country, if people decide in their favour in the polls. He said he met PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari who in a message urged the party workers to work for progress of Pakistan. Referring to his recent visit to Sindh, he said Pakistan has big reservoirs of coal in Thar, from which high quality diesel can be produced.