Interior Minister Rehman Malik also called on President Zardari on Sunday, informing him on the overall law and order situation in the country. PHOTO: INP
President Asif Ali Zardari on Sunday reaffirmed the government’s resolve to conduct elections on time, adding that the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) would record a resounding victory in Punjab.
He said this while discussing several issues, including the present political situation, with Law Minister Farooq H Naek at Bilawal House, Lahore. The president also discussed the removal of governor’s rule in Balochistan, the Swiss authorities response to the government’s letter and other important cases before the Supreme Court, including Minhajul Quran International chief Tahirul Qadri’s petition for dissolving the election commission.
Naek congratulated President Zardari on the Swiss authorities’ decision against reinstating graft cases against him and maintained that this endorsed the ruling party’s stance in this regard. He termed it a victory for PPP.
They also discussed the proposed candidates for the caretaker prime minister. The law minister also briefed the president about his meetings with the leaders of the coalition partners. He informed him about efforts to end governor’s rule in Balochistan.
Interior Minister Rehman Malik also called on President Zardari on Sunday, informing him on the overall law and order situation in the country. Punjab Governor Makhdoom Ahmed Mehmood and PPP’s Punjab chapter president Manzoor Wattoo held meetings with the president as well, discussing a range of issues.
Later, President Zardari and his son, PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, attended a dinner arranged by the party’s Lahore chapter president, federal minister Samina Khalid Ghurki at her residence.
Speaking at the dinner, Bilawal too reiterated the party’s resolve to not let anyone disrupt the elections. He claimed the present government had achieved more with a simple majority than most others did with the ‘heavy mandate’ of a two-thirds majority. Bilawal added that the Constitution had been purified of the ‘nonsense’ of dictators as well.
At dinner, the proposal of fielding Khalid Ghurki’s son Sufyan from Lahore was considered. Party officials also briefed Bilawal on the political and organizational situation in Lahore. Meanwhile, Samina Ghurki assured that PPP would win at least six seats for the National Assembly from Lahore.
The PPP chairman is scheduled to meet party representatives and parliamentarians for Faisalabad today.
According to Sana News, Bilawal has decided that as PPP chairman, he will handle all party issues himself and keep President Zardari away from them.
(WITH ADDITIONAL INPUT FROM AGENCIES)
Published in The Express Tribune, February 11th, 2013.
COMMENTS (32)
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ
No Doubt….PPP is a Largest Political Party of Pakistan, and it will make next government in Pakistan after a Transparent Election, but Anti Bhutto lobby will never be satisfied, because they are always in search of shortcuts. In 1977 they used Islamic issue, Gen.Zia and SC CJ Anwaar ul Haq against Bhutto, even this mindset declares the Bhutto as non Muslim. Now they are again active and using Judiciary, but they will not be successful, as it is not 1977. There is no other party who has had the charisma of ZAB & BB, the bravery of Salman Taseer and Shahbaz bhatti? Tell me a party which can get votes from ALL ethnicities? PML-N may get one or two votes from Sindh but thats about it. MQM is not even a player except in Urdu speaking communities.. PPP has the most potential among all parties just because of their diverse vote bank.
He might be true. Devil has his Days!
Yup the game is on and we are winning big time !
Dreams never turn into reality.
@Habib Khan: I believe all are united against PTI.
Anyhow, we have seen on various occasions that all the parties in the Parliament stood unanimous on issues of their interests ..........why not they unite for the welfare of people of Pakistan.
Zardari Sahib, please awake from sleep. You are having sweet dreams.
PPP has been dreaming to conquer Punjab since many years. But their dreams will never come true. PML(N) has done many development works in Punjab. Why should we not vote for them. Shehbaz Sharif has done a lot in South Punjab. I live in South Punjab and I will vote for PML(N). Politicians of PPP belonging to South Punjab did nothing but Shehbaz Sharif has done a lot in South Punjab. My vote for PML(N).
Voting for PTI means voting for PPP. All are united against PML(N). Insha Allah PML(N) will win in the elections. Zardari has taken revenge from people of Punjab in the shape of massive load shedding of electricity and CNG. I pray for Pakistan and PML (N).
All independent surveys (IRI, Economist, Gallup) have come in favour of PML(N). It is due to youth which is going to vote for PML - N. My support for PML - N.
Vote of youth for PML - N.
I am from Multan - South Punjab. I shall vote in favour of Nawaz Sharif.
@arr: Who cares what you and other like you cannot imagine; life goes on in spite what people think.
A Peshawary
Entire youth will vote for PML(N). Me and all my class fellows will vote for Nawaz Sharif.
No any political party shall have 2/3 majority seats in the next general elections in federal government,if are held,to form the government itself because political parties' popularity graph by IRI indicates/shows/proves that PPP has lost its credibility and trustworthiness most especially importantly Zardari in the three provinces to a great degree except Sindh and PML-N's popularity graph has increased in all the three provinces except Sindh.The next government shall be the coalition government formed by the different political parties in federal government setup..... But as far as provincial governments are concerned then there are bright chances of getting seats by 1-In Punjab PML-N, 2-In Sindh PPP, 3-In KPK coalition setup and 4-In Balochistan also coalition setup.....
Afterall zardari has given a generous gift of Bilawal house to the people of Punjab for their welfare. Ofcourse we the people of Punjab have to thank the bhutto/zardari clan by electing them for another term.
see link for prediction of next election http://dawn.com/2013/02/09/elections-2013-survey-indicates-close-contest/
Insha Allah PML (N) will win upcoming elections with big majority.
The day you will be again in Parliament, Nation will be Out on Roads creating Tehreer Squares...!
Shame for PPP who gave nothing to Punjab except darkness. Insha Allah PPP will lose in Punjab. I shall vote for PML(N).
yes their B team, PTI is working on it.
Zardari, what have you delivered in Punjab during last 5 years. Maximum load shedding in these 5 years was in Punjab. Only hope is Nawaz Sharif.
Ha Ha Ha. Joke of the day. Ha Ha Ha.
Dream on.... Yawn!
Zardari is a mastermind, the rest need to "think" hard - otherwise they have no hope.
Zardari sb, we love you our dear president.
If you "win big" in Punjab, and get another term, Its revolution time. And this time, the whole Bhutto/Zardari clan will be kicked out of Pakistan FOR GOOD. Watch.
No one can stop PTI Inshallah
Zardari could be right. Combined forces of Canadian beauty, Imran, Chaudhrys of Gujrat and Zardari are expected to give tough time to PML(N).
I'm very concerned. Zardari could be right. He can maybe winn by cheat. He is playing the political game very well. His every move is hurting other political partyies. He is 10 times ahead then all the pakistani political partyies. If Zardari wins it's mean the pakistan population don't belive in a all the other true politicians as Imran khan but they rather goes to vote for a person who is a mafia/corrupt/killer, and then Allahs purnishment will be more hard on them all. I hope fair elections will be held in our country so we one day can come proud to Pakistan and maybe leave in our own country forever. I swear I'm really tired to leave in Denmark where the media always write wrong thing about islam. Last day I read on a newsarticle that 80 percent of the Denmarks media mention muslims and islam as negative. Please pakistani population make a good decision. I miss my country very much. Another thing which is importent for all our politicial partyies are economic plan for the next 5 years good luck expacially to Imran Khan/ Nawas sharif.
Our President Zardari is so funny!
Zardari will have more seats in parliament this time round Pakistan needs one more term for stabilisation of democracy
I cannot Imagine PPP wining again !!!!