Former Sindh home minister Manzoor Wassan said on Tuesday that Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) would set a precedent in holding transparent elections in April 2013.
Talking to the media after a meeting with President Asif Ali Zardari at Bilawal House, Wassan who is famous for his ‘dreams’ said, “this is not a dream, but I want to share with you that the general elections will be held on time in April 2013.”
When asked about the meeting held at Bilawal House, Wassan said that issues ranging from law and order and electioneering were discussed at length in addition to a polio eradication meeting chaired by President Zardari.
Talking to The Express Tribune Wassan said that the president wants to provide him with ‘an important responsibility’ in the Sindh government. When asked about the portfolio he said, “I will let you know.”
Sources privy to the development said that three choices were given to Wassan, either to rejoin the home department, works and services department or irrigation department, which has been lying vacant following the resignation of Jam Saifullah Dharejo.
It is most likely that Wassan may be allocated this portfolio, sources said. Sources said that during the meeting, the president was also briefed about a recent police encounter in which the brains behind the attack on a PPP Jalsa in Khairpur was killed.
LG law apprehensions
“God willing, we will win the upcoming election on the basis of the local government law and our performance,” sources quoted President Zardari as saying, as he brushed aside apprehensions of PPP ministers about protests by the nationalists and an emerging alliance against PPP following the local government ordinance.
The president directed his party leaders to organise PPP at a grass roots level and remove the grievances of diehard workers. “No doubt we want to encourage young blood, but we should seek guidance from the party’s old guard,” sources said quoting the president.
Law and order
During the meeting the president asked Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah to take all stakeholders of the Karachi into confidence and convene a meeting within 15 days seeking solution to the law and order situation the city is facing.
He directed the chief minister to conduct a targeted operation against the criminals involved in extortion and organised crime.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 31st, 2012.
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How can we have fair polls in Karachi when the average no. of daily killings is more than 10