All unite: Opp pledges to resist anti-democratic forces
17 January, 2013
LAHORE: Presenting their 10-point demands, opposition parties asked the government to immediately announce the schedule for the general elections, and vowed to resist the anti-democratic forces. All the opposition parties held an important meeting, chaired by Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) chief Nawaz Sharif, in Raiwind on Wednesday to review the current political situation in the country, including the long march led by Tahirul Qadri. The meeting, which lasted for more than three hours, was attended by leaders of various opposition parties, including Maulana Fazlur Rehman, Syed Munawar Hasan, Professor Sajid Mir, Mir Hasil Bazanjo, Mehmood Khan Achakzai, Talal Bugti, Aftab Ahmed Sherpao, Salim Saifullah, Hamid Nasir Chatha and Ghulam Mustafa Khar. After the meeting, addressing a press conference along with other leaders, Nawaz Sharif presented the 10-point agenda, which was decided during the meeting. He said that every political change would come through free and fair elections. All the parties decided to reject any unconstitutional and undemocratic step and pledged to resist the forces which were trying to disrupt the democratic process at this critical juncture of transition of power, he said. "We demand that polls' schedule, including dates for the formation of the caretaker setup and holding of elections, be announced immediately without further delay," Nawaz said, adding that it was the sole way to come out of current crisis and confusion. He said that vast consultation process, including consultation with the parties inside and outside the parliament, should be carried out to form caretaker governments in the Centre and provinces. Nawaz said that all opposition parties had reposed complete confidence in the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), hoping that the ECP would live up to their expectations. Zardari terms opp role victory of democracy President Asif Ali Zardari on Wednesday hailed the reaction of the opposition parties on current developments in the country and said that the expression of trust by them in democracy and the democratic government is the victory of democracy. Zardari telephoned Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf and appreciated the role of opposition parties while commenting over a joint press conference after a meeting of opposition parties, hosted by the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz chief Nawaz Sharif. Zardari directed Raja Pervez Ashraf to contact all political parties for consultation on political issues of the country, including the interim government. It is believed that Zardari wants to consult all political parties regarding the caretaker setup. It is also pertinent to mention here that the opposition parties' meeting had hinted that fresh candidates would be discussed with the present government for the caretaker government. Earlier, PPP workers and supporters gathered outside the Bilawal House and chanted slogans in favour of the prime minister and democracy. They expressed their confidence in Raja Pervez Ashraf and President Zardari and vowed that they would resist any conspiracy against democracy. It was for the first time that the PPP workers had gathered outside the Bilawal House during the Tahirul Qadri episode, and especially after the meeting of opposition parties meeting. End.
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