ISLAMABAD: The ruling Pakistan Peoples Party seems to have decided to rethink its policy of reconciliation “for all”, and has decided to flex its muscle against forces it perceives to be bent upon depriving it of its legitimate right to remain in power.
The beleaguered PPP mustered immense political backing from the main opposition Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) earlier in the day when Leader of Opposition in the National Assembly Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan promised that his party would not be part of any conspiracy against the democratic system.
PPP’s co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari presided over two important meetings on Wednesday – first with the party’s ministers from the Punjab cabinet, whom he advised to continue cooperation with PML-N despite their aggression against the party.
Later in the evening, he held a marathon meeting with his closest confidantes in the party, commonly called the core committee, a day before party’s Central Executive Committee (CEC) meeting to be held today (Thursday).
“Our policy of reconciliation should not be taken as granted.We have assumed power through a democratic struggle and after rendering great sacrifices. We know how to defend democracy,” Zardari was quoted as saying to his associates during the core committee meeting that lasted for three hours.
Presidential spokesman Farhatullah Babar said that the meeting discussed in depth the current political situation in the country.
“The meeting reiterated the party’s resolve to protect and strengthen parliamentary democracy in the country and also defend and respect all state institutions,” he said in a short statement issued after the meeting.
The president applauded the prime minister and the cabinet for their resolve to strengthen parliamentary democracy in the country.
During Zardari’s meeting with party’s Punjab cabinet members, provincial ministers complained to him about the biased attitude they were facing by the Punjab government. Zardari advised them to continue with the alliance for the sake of strengthening democratic forces.
He directed PPP provincial ministers, parliamentarians and party workers in Punjab to play their active role and remain side by side with the flood victims by personally visiting relief camps set up for them in their areas.
The president asked the PPP ministers to involve the party and political workers in the relief operations. This was necessary as the task was too big for the government alone to handle and every section of society needed to be mobilised, he said.
The president said that close monitoring of the rehabilitation activities by public representatives is vital as through this mechanism the government could better judge the situation on ground in different areas of the country.
The president said that directives have been issued and a foolproof system of transparency and accountability had been devised by the government for the collection and distribution of relief goods. He said that all donations and relief goods and their disbursement to the provinces and the flood areas will be available on the internet and everyone can access this information.
He said that transparency was key to combating corruption and a decision had been taken to make the distribution of relief and rehabilitation most transparent.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 23rd, 2010.
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