Wattoo praises army for protecting democracy

Says allegation of poll rigging should be investigated.

LAHORE:

Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Punjab president Manzoor Ahmed Wattoo praised the army on Tuesday for its unrelenting commitment to preserving the Constitution and democracy.

He said actions spoke louder than words and the army’s support for the continuation of the democratic process was heartening to note.  He said the army’s leadership was devoted to pursuing its responsibilities within the ambit of the Constitution. He said it was imperative to probe allegations of electoral malpractices to pacify protesting political parties and placate the public.

Wattoo said leaders across the political spectrum had asked for the allegations to be probed and it had become a national demand. He said it was necessary for the judicial commission to conduct the probe impartially to pacify agitating parties. He said parliamentary leaders should guarantee that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif would not interfere in the probe and Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan should honour the results by accepting them.

He said blame for the events of the past days squarely rested with the government’s poor handling of the situation. Wattoo said this should not be allowed to jeopardise democracy. He said the PPP had always stood for the supremacy of the Constitution and the continuation of democracy in Pakistan.

Wattoo said these principles were non-negotiable and the party had never compromised on these principles.  He said the history of the party was replete with struggling for the rights of the public. Wattoo said the party was ever-ready to uphold and defend their rights and would never be daunted by rendering sacrifices for it.

He said the party had always strived to uphold the legacy of its leaders by empowering the public to become the final arbitrators.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 3^rd, 2014.