Election campaign: ‘Main contest between leaders of Lahore and PPP’
Gilani says PTI does not have a manifesto.
MULTAN:
The general elections will be a fight between supporters and opponents of new provinces in Pakistan, former prime minister Yousaf Raza Gilani said on Saturday. He was addressing a public gathering in PP-202. More than 30,000 people attended the rally.
Gilani said the main competition in the elections would be between the “leaders of Lahore” and the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) .
He said the PPP aimed at creating a Seraiki province. He said by creating this province, his party would take revenge from those who were against it.
He said that the leaders in Lahore were unaware of the grievances of the people in their region.
“How can they then identify and resolve issues in other areas?”
He said the PPP leadership felt the pain of the people of the region.
“I need the people of this region to realise this reality and support us to save themselves from punishment and revenge,” he said.
To a question, Gilani said that Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) did not have a manifesto.
He said, “PTI cannot compete with the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz or any other party.”
Gilani said that the difference between the PPP and the PML-N was that the former had strengthened the foundations of democracy, progress and peace in the country, while the latter had strengthened themselves by “stage shows” pretending to be helping the people.
“Have we ever heard that the PML-N has supported women against discrimination, independence of media, labour empowerment and the reinstatement of independent judiciary? No, because they are too busy in making political plays,” he said.
The former prime minister concluded by saying that the PPP was not concerned about losing in the general elections anywhere in Pakistan. It, however, will feel proud over doing the best for the people despite “conspiracies” against it by the opposition and despite the threat of and terrorism.
The public gathering was also addressed by MNA Ali Moosa Gillani, MPA Akhtar Malik and local PPP leaders.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 17th, 2012.
The general elections will be a fight between supporters and opponents of new provinces in Pakistan, former prime minister Yousaf Raza Gilani said on Saturday. He was addressing a public gathering in PP-202. More than 30,000 people attended the rally.
Gilani said the main competition in the elections would be between the “leaders of Lahore” and the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) .
He said the PPP aimed at creating a Seraiki province. He said by creating this province, his party would take revenge from those who were against it.
He said that the leaders in Lahore were unaware of the grievances of the people in their region.
“How can they then identify and resolve issues in other areas?”
He said the PPP leadership felt the pain of the people of the region.
“I need the people of this region to realise this reality and support us to save themselves from punishment and revenge,” he said.
To a question, Gilani said that Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) did not have a manifesto.
He said, “PTI cannot compete with the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz or any other party.”
Gilani said that the difference between the PPP and the PML-N was that the former had strengthened the foundations of democracy, progress and peace in the country, while the latter had strengthened themselves by “stage shows” pretending to be helping the people.
“Have we ever heard that the PML-N has supported women against discrimination, independence of media, labour empowerment and the reinstatement of independent judiciary? No, because they are too busy in making political plays,” he said.
The former prime minister concluded by saying that the PPP was not concerned about losing in the general elections anywhere in Pakistan. It, however, will feel proud over doing the best for the people despite “conspiracies” against it by the opposition and despite the threat of and terrorism.
The public gathering was also addressed by MNA Ali Moosa Gillani, MPA Akhtar Malik and local PPP leaders.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 17th, 2012.