Pakistan People's Party (PPP) and its coalition partners on Friday discussed the roadmap for the forthcoming Senate and general elections. They also discussed the proposed creation of new provinces. The roadmap was reportedly discussed at a meeting of the parliamentary heads of allied parties at Aiwan-e-Sadr presided over by co-chairman PPP President Asif Ali Zardari.
The meeting was attended by Senator Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, Asfandyar Wali, Senator Haji Muhammad Adeel, Senator Mir Israrullah Zehri, Dr Farooq Sattar, Senator Babar Khan Ghauri, Munir Khan Orakzai, Noor-ul-Haq Qadri, Syed Khursheed Ahmed Shah, Senator Dr Babar Awan, Raja Pervez Ashraf, Mehreen Anwer Raja and Spokesperson to the President Farhatullah Babar.
The sources said that in the meeting an effort was made to resolve differences between the Awami National Party (ANP) and Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) on the proposed creation of new provinces, particularly Hazara. These differences were apparent during the recent session of the National Assembly. The sources said the PPP and its coalition partners agreed to hold Senate elections in February 2012 and general elections in the last quarter of 2012-13, subsequent to the budget.
According to a handout issued by Farhatullah Babar, Pakistan Peoples' Party has invited applications from party workers for Senate elections due within weeks. Announcing this, Party Secretary General Jahangir Badr reminded the party workers that the last date for applying in writing to the Party co-chairman for the award of party tickets was Tuesday, January 10.
Applications accompanied by a bank draft for Rs 30,000 should reach the Party's Central Secretariat in Islamabad by the due date, he said. Fifty Senators are due to retire on March 12. Beside, four seats of minorities have been created under 18th Amendment of the Constitution. Therefore four Senators of minorities would be elected. Under the law, election to vacant seats can be held one month before the seats are vacated. The new senators will be elected by the members of the present assemblies.
APP adds: President Zardari has said that he saw no threat to democracy but no matter what happened Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) will not disappoint the nation and the people will find us fully prepared to face any eventuality with courage and determination.
This he said while chairing a meeting of Senators and MNAs of PPP here at the Aiwan-e-Sadr on Friday night. Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani was also present. Briefing about the meeting, Spokesperson to the President, Farhatullah Babar said that the meeting renewed the party's commitment to strengthen democracy and the democratic institutions in the country and to continue to resisting any attempt that sought to undermine democracy and civil institutions.
The President said that they were aware of their obligation to fulfil their commitments with the people who have never been heard and would take all measures that promise to fulfil the aspirations of the people of country. The President said that the party has initiated a consultative process with its political partners and allies on matters of creation of new provinces as well as Senate elections.
He said that appropriate legislative measures would soon be undertaken for creation of Seraiki province in consultation with coalition partners. He said that the government has decided to hold by-elections to all the vacant seats at the earliest completing the Constitutional requirements in this regard.
The Prime Minister while addressing the participants said that their decision to support a private-member bill which makes it binding upon all the public servants to declare their assets as the parliamentarians do was a major step to ensure across the board accountability of all. However, efforts made in this regard in the past were foiled on tenuous ground, he said. He said that declaration and publication of assets of all those drawing salary from public exchequer was a historical step that will be pursued to its logical conclusion and any attempt to subvert it will be exposed and resisted.
The Prime Minister said that the Government has also lifted ban on Government jobs. The President said that the leadership was aware of the challenges facing the country and that is why it has decided to hold dialogue with all the political parties and leaders for strengthening democracy in the country and to take the country out of the present challenges.
Discussing power and energy crisis, the President said that power and energy challenges were amongst the greatest challenges that continue to haunt the people of the country and the Government was taking all possible measures to address these issues.
The Prime Minister recounted various decisions taken during the recent Cabinet meeting to address power and energy crisis. He said that funds for Thar Coal project have been released and expressed the hope that the Government would overcome the power crises. The President called upon all the Parliamentarians to reach out to the people and hold rallies and public gatherings at divisional levels. Later, the parliamentarians of the Party spoke on various political issues facing the country. Farzana Raja also gave a rundown of the progress made by Benazir Income Support Programme.