PPP Senator Dr Karim Khawaja said Asif Ali Zardari was the first president who remained neutral. PHOTO: AFP
“It’s the first time in Pakistan’s parliamentary history that the Presidency didn’t become a hub of conspiracies during the elections,” the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) claimed on Tuesday crediting President Asif Ali Zardari’s democratic approach for free and fair elections.
PPP Senator Dr Karim Khawaja told journalists in Islamabad that Asif Ali Zardari was the first president who remained neutral and did not issue even a single statement during the whole elections process.
“In the past, presidents, barring a few, actively supported politicians of their choice in elections and formation of governments,” Khawaja said. Despite reservations, the PPP accepts the overall results for the continuation of democracy in the country, he added. “However, PPP candidates will approach election tribunals wherever they have election-related complaints.”
He disclosed that PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari will reorganise the party in due course of time. Some leaders, including Aitzaz Ahsan, Yousaf Raza Gilani and Manzoor Wattoo, have offered their resignations from party’s positions on moral grounds and many more might follow suit, he said.
The PPP has given sacrifices for democracy in the country and would continue to play a positive role in the future too. He said it was not the first time that the PPP fared badly in the elections. The party had faced similar situation in the 1990 and 1997 elections, and even then it had effectively played its role in parliamentary politics.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 15th, 2013.
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Democratic transition is complete and all the credit goes to President Asif Ali Zardari for this peaceful transition. Although there are very clear reports of rigging at major level yet PPP remained tight lipped for the sake of democracy. It is just because of PPP that democracy is flourishing in Pakistan. PML-N and all the political parties should pay thanks to president for his commendable job for first time in the history of Pakistan a president, though head of a political party, remained impartial and neutral during elections.