PM calls for talks with opposition on free, fair, transparent elections

PM Ashraf confident PPP will sweep next elections. PHOTO: AFP / FILE

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf on Friday once again invited the opposition to sit with the government and all settle issues posing an obstruction to holding free, fair and transparent elections.

Addressing workers of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) at an iftar dinner at the Prime Minister House on Friday, he said, “instead of levelling allegations and mudslinging at 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.”

Trusting the fate of his party in the hands of voters, the premier expressed confidence that PPP will emerge victorious in the next elections, and assured elections would be held in a free, fair and transparent manner.

“Election is the field of PPP and we are always ready for it.”

Ashraf said PPP government is making preparations for the elections will all sincerity.

He said Co-Chairman PPP Asif Ali Zardari has instructed that leaders and workers of PPP begin contacting people in their areas and resolve their problems.

On the fast deteriorating public discourse on mainstream politics as the polls near, the Prime Minister called for restraint, urging there was a need for healthy politics where everyone should shun character assassination, abusive language and fighting in politics.

He triumphantly claimed that despite all the mudslinging, 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 and pointed towards the electoral victories in Azad Kashmir, Gilgit Baltistan and more narrowly in the by-elections in various parts of the country.

Advising political parties to put their programmes before people without getting into conflict with each he urged them to serve the country, if people decided in their favour in the polls.