BB backs Govt on WP Bill, anti-terror war

LONDON—Former Prime Minister and Chairperson of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Benazir Bhutto has said that she supports President General Pervez Musharraf on the Women Protection Bill and war against terrorism and PPP would continue supporting good steps taken by the government.
“However, to establish rule of real democracy, free and fair elections are need of the hour, which could only become possible through setting up of independent Election Commission”, she said while talking to newsmen here on Tuesday. Benazir said PPP always fought for supremacy of law and restoration of real democracy in Pakistan.
To a question, the PPP Chairperson said the members of Pakistan Peoples Party Patriot (PPPP) could be taken back into her party again, if they didn’t speak against it and become part of defamation campaign against PPP. She described WPB a positive measure on the part of the present government and added that her party would support all such decisions taken in the interest of the masses.
Ms. Benazir urged MMA parliamentary members to reconsider their decision to resign from the National Assembly over the issue of Women Protection Bill and said such a move would not strengthen the democracy in the country. She said she would be disappointed if MMA members resign from their seats in the National Assembly over the issue of Women Protection Bill. She categorically declared that her party members would not resign from NA over this particular issue. She lauded the support given by President General Pervez Musharraf for the passage of Women Protection Bill and said her party fully endorse the decision of the Government in this regard.
Earlier, Begum Abida Hussein, her husband Syed Fakhar Imam, Amanullah Shahani, Sardar Wazir Ahmad Jogezai, Syed Said Munir Shah and Khalil Khan met the PPP Chairperson and announced to join the party. Welcoming their decision, Ms.Benazir said in the next general elections, Abida Hussein and Fakhar Imam would be the party’s candidates.
Later, former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif drove to the residence of Rehman Malik for a courtesy call on the PPP Chief who recently underwent a knee surgery in USA. She was presented with a bouquet as a gesture of goodwill for her recovery from the operation.

—Agencies