Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) presidential candidate Mamnoon Hussain said on Monday that he would be the symbol of federation. "The new president will be elected democratically," he said, while addressing media persons in Lahore. Hussain added that he would resign from his party post if he got elected as president. Talking about Pakistan People's Party's boycott of election, he said, "There are pending cases against PPP in the courts and they're afraid the ruling of the cases might go against them. They're targeting the courts by boycotting presidential elections."
In response to impression that he was being appointed akin to former president Rafiq Tarar, he retorted, "What was wrong with Rafiq Tarar? He served the presidency well." Hussain said the role of the president was to make important decisions on the advice of the Prime Minister.
"If a President serves as a facilitator by following the law and the Constitution, what's the problem with that?" he questioned. PML-N presidential candidate said, "I went to Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) to secure votes for the presidential elections because I as a candidate want to keep an open mind." He said there was no point in going to PPP for the same because the election was being contested against them.
BR from Lahore adds: Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) presidential candidate Mamnoon Hussain has said that Tuesday's presidential polls would complete peaceful transfer of power in the country, "which is a good omen for Pakistan and a sign of stability of democratic institutions." Addressing a PML-N Punjab parliamentary party meeting, Mamnoon said that the office of president was a symbol of federation and after winning the presidential election he would discharge his responsibilities according to the constitution and law.
He said that after May 11 general elections, power had been transferred from one democratic government to the other; similarly, as a result of presidential election, another democratic process would be completed smoothly. Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif presided over the parliamentary party meeting at Chief Minister's office. Provincial ministers, advisors, special assistants and a large number of assembly members attended the meeting. The parliamentary party meeting expressed its complete confidence in the leadership of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Chief Minister Punjab Shahbaz Sharif. The meeting expressed its determination for "complete success of Mamnoon Hussain."
Addressing the meeting, Sharif said that PML-N was the custodian of democratic traditions and it always promoted democratic values. He reiterated that the assembly members of PML-N would ensure thumping success of Mamnoon Hussain in the presidential elections. He said that all assembly members should discharge their constitutional responsibilities efficiently by taking part in presidential election.