President Asif Ali Zardari. PHOTO: AFP
Fuelling doubts about the transparency of the May 11 elections, President Asif Ali Zardari has said that the returning officers (ROs) played an important role in the elections.
“If I get [the support of] these ROs, I can win the presidential election,” he said while talking to a delegation of South Asia Free Media Association (Safma) at Bilawal House on Sunday. The PPP did not want to sacrifice ‘another Bhutto’ just for another 25-26 seats, he added.
Quashing rumours about his plans to step down, President Zardari said he would complete his constitutional term. “If I did not resign at the time of elections [to lead PPP’s campaign], there was no justification for my resignation now,” he said.
He said that the PPP could not run a proper elections campaign in Punjab because of the Taliban threats. Moreover, the judiciary was also against PPP, he added. “The party couldn’t fight on multiple fronts simultaneously.”
Despite reservations, President Zardari said that the PPP has conceded defeat and he will administer oath to the party that has won the mandate. “The opposition leader will be from the second largest party in the National Assembly,” he said. “We would have no issue if PTI becomes the second biggest party and gets the opposition leader slot.”
President Zardari said that the PPP lost 40 to 45 seats because of its poor elections strategy. Asked what would be the party’s strategy if the 2013 elections were held again, the president said he would step down to lead PPP’s election campaign.
He said that Manzoor Wattoo was made the president of Punjab chapter of PPP in view of the traditional biradri politics in the province not because of his ideological stance. Wattoo worked hard but unfortunately his efforts did not yield the desired results, he added.
He said two former premiers from his party – Yousaf Raza Gilani and Raja Pervaiz Ashraf – could not effectively lead PPP’s election campaign. Gilani was busy making efforts for the recovery of his son, while Ashraf was fighting court cases against him.
President also blamed the energy crisis for the poor performance of PPP in the elections. “The PPP government could not handle the electricity crisis and this caused the party’s defeat in the elections,” he added.
About Sindh where the PPP has emerged as the single largest party, President Zardari said that the PPP would form a coalition government with the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), though the party has enough seats to form the next government independently.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 20th, 2013.
COMMENTS (19)
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Reason of loosing in multan is lack of youth wing and ignorance of workers and in pp197 canidate was unable He ignores workers in does not met with people In na150 ppp canidate was not strong NOw its my request to lead the youth wing and make the party strong
Where billions of budget gone? Why that budget not spent for generation of electricity? I think all that money went into your and other PPP leaders pockets. If you filled your pockets during all the 5 years then why should people vote for you. PPP did nothing for the public. That is why they have lost the elections. Nawaz Sharif is the only hope now.
PPP did no compaign in punjab during elections. there focus was only sindh. they did not have any courage to face people of punjab during elections. ppp got defeat due to its negative approach towards punjab. they always ignored punjab in all aspects. So people of punjab had no option except rejecting PPP.
Can Mr. Zardari tell how many jalsas PPP did in Punjab during this election compaign? Can Mr. Zardari tell how many public rallies arranged by PPP during this election compaign? Can Mr. Zardari tell why slogan of new province "South Punjab" raised by PPP near the elections? Can Mr. Zardari tell why PPP did not utter a single word against PTI during election compaign? Can he elaborate about secret alliance with PTI? Can Mr. Zardari tell why 9000 people were killed in 5 years in Karachi in the name of politics of reconciliation? Can Mr. Zardari tell why there was 18 to 20 hours load shedding in Punjab during PPP tenure of 5 years? If he gets the answer to the above questions, he will know the reason of PPPs defeat in Punjab. No need to blame others. Look into yourselves.
@ Glukhaiz: I endorse Gulkhaiz. All should praise ECP for making best efforts. However there was much rigging in Karachi. Overall it was much satisfactory elections. No one has ever accepted the defeat in Pakistan. Same is being done by Zardari.
Disgusting. The president instead of praising ECP is belittling them and ridiculing the country .On the contrary every outside agency is praising the election exercise in the mileu of terrorism. Political pygmies are available dime a dozen in this country.
I think he is in 1970 and thinking people can be made foolish.Mr zardari they are not slaves as u think plz come out and open ur eyes in daylight and give respect to people. u can buy politicians but not people .
Punjabis will never forget and forgive you Zardari. You destroyed generation of Punjabis in 5 years through deliberate and terrible loadsheding.
"The PPP did not want to sacrifice ‘another (underage) Bhutto’ just for another 25-26 seats" - We shall save this bhutto to be sacrificed in the next elections so that we can clean sweep once again.
@Umar Usman Ch.:
He also talked about energy crisis as being one of the key reasons for electoral which ET has conveniently ignored creating a false impression.
Why are you becoming innocent? Who is responsible for poor condition of PIA, Railway, Steel Mill, PSO, OGDCL etc.? Who is responsible for load shedding of electricity and CNG? Who is responsible for Rental Power Issues? People of Punjab rejected PPP due to these issues. Be realistic and dont blame Election Commission.
He shows that he still don't know the prestige of President.
These statements are against 18th Amendment.
PPP did not deliver. that is why PPP got defeat. There was no rigging in Punjab. These are baseless allegations by PPP. They should think about their inefficiencies.
And people of pakistan blame you for corruption in these elections. Don't play innocent.
Shame for such statement. What has PPP given to Punjab except load shedding of electricity and gas??? Most industry has closed in Punjab. Who is resposible? There is no rigging in Punjab. You took revenge from people of Punjab. This time people of Punjab got a chance to take revenge from you and they did it due to your inefficiencies.
Probably PPP is looking for another defeat to accept the reality that they are rejected this time by the people themselves. Better to apologize for bad governance and corruption.