President’s Uniform vital for stability: PM
Staff Report

ISLAMABAD—Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz has said that the re-election of President Gen Pervez Musharraf in uniform from current assemblies is inevitable for political stability and strengthening of democratic institutions in the country.
Talking to President Pakistan Muslim League (PML-Q) Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain who called on him here at PM house on Friday, the Prime Minister vowed to continue his support for the re-election of the President from the incumbent assemblies.
During the meeting, both the Prime Minister and President PML-Q discussed overall political situation of the country and ongoing negotiation of Presidential team with Former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto in length. Both have agreed to start a massive campaign in order to re-elect Musharraf in Uniform from current assemblies.
Speaking on the occasion, President PML-Q Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain said that the ruling Party has no reservation on talks with Political parties including Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP). However, he said, Benazir Bhutto is blackmailing the Government just to clutch the rule. The demand being made by Chairperson PPP Benazir Bhutto should not be accepted because various treasury members have reservation on conditional talks with him, he added.
He said that the system of check and balance introduced by the President through Political reforms should exist because according to it Parliament is going to complete its tenure for first time in history of the country. The meeting also devised a comprehensive strategy to elect President Gen. Musharraf from current assemblies and took vital decision to remove reservations of ruling Party members.
Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz on Friday said the government was in contact with all political parties and their leaders at home and abroad to achieve the objective of national and political reconciliation.“We want national and political reconciliation, that is why we are talking to all political parties and their leaders within the country and abroad, directly or indirectly, and the objective is national and political reconciliation”, he said.The Prime Minister was addressing the participants of the 87th National Management Course - being held at the National School of Public Policy, Lahore - here at the PM House.
He spoke at length on various issues of national importance including the political situation, foreign policy, domestic security environment vis a vis terrorism and extremism, economic policies and achievements as well as the government’s broad-based reforms. The Prime Minister said with country entering the elections mode, the most significant event would be the Presidential elections, which according to the constitution are to be held between September 15 to October 15 this year.
He said President Pervez Musharraf would be the candidate of PML and its allied parties and with the country facing various challenges, the presence of President Musharraf (through re-election) will not only ensure the continuity of reforms and economic growth but will also make a tangible change. The Prime Minister said after the Presidential elections there will be general elections, as it was for the first time in the country’s 60 year history that the present assemblies will be completing their tenure. He said the general elections will be held under a care-taker set-up to ensure their transparency and credibility.
The Prime Minister said the PML and its allied parties including the PML (Functional), PPP (Sherpao), MQM and some independents will contest the elections from one platform on the basis of their performance in office.
He said the success of PML and its allied parties in the next elections will allow the country to keep it on the path of growth momentum and continuity of economic policies.