Daily Times

LAHORE: Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) co-chairman and former President Asif Ali Zardari on Sunday announced to constitute a special committee for consultations with other political parties to ensure the next general elections are held in a free, fair and transparent manner in Punjab.

In his address to the party workers at a luncheon hosted in his honour by the party’s local leader Azizur Rehman Chann, Zardari said PPP never lost any election except the ‘ROs election’ held in 2013. He said the next general elections might not be free and fair as well and again prove to be an ‘election of the ROs’. He said consultations will be made with other political parties to make sure the upcoming elections are free, fair and transparent.

Zardari challenged the power of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) in Punjab and claimed that PPP would let them know in 2018 what elections really mean. He said PML-N will come to know about PPP’s street power very soon when his party launches their election campaign in Punjab. He said Lahore will see a campaign similar to those launched by the late Benazir Bhutto in the city.

The PPP leader said he, along with his son Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and daughters Asifa Bhutto and Bakhtawar Bhutto, will personally lead the party campaign for the next general election.

Some scuffles between journalists and the PPP workers and guards were seen at the event. However, the PPP local leadership apologised to the journalists later on.

It is pertinent to mention here that PPP co-chairman has prolonged his scheduled tour to Lahore and started consultations for capturing Punjab in the next general elections. For the purpose, he is set to hold meetings with party’s office-bearers from all divisions on a daily basis. Sources said that a meeting will be held at Lahore’s Bilawal House today and PPP’s ticket holders and MPAs will attend the gathering. The sessions will proceed division-wise for the next seven days and Sargodha area will be engaged in the first sitting. The party preparations for the next elections and popularity of the party candidates in their respective constituencies will be deliberated upon during these meetings.

PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has also accelerated his political activities. He is reaching Islamabad today where he is scheduled to meet some foreign envoys besides taking part in some party activities in the federal capital.