Onus on PPP for deal failure: Durrani
Staff Report

ISLAMABAD—Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Muhammad Ali Durrani has said that undemocratic demands by political parties are creating impediment in the way of dialogue. He said that dialogue process with MMA and PPP is continuing since time but we can not give protection to the one’s personal interests in order to headway the democratic process.
Abolishment of Local Government System is merely undemocratic process while the all the arrangements for the forthcoming elections would be finalized in the upcoming four months. He expressed these views in a press conference here on Sunday. Muhammad Ali Durrani said that promotion of democracy and continuity of polices is the top priority of the government.
He said that President General Pervez Musharraf and government always respect the decision of Supreme Court and Judiciary would strengthen enough further. He said that government would not let any politicians to vitiate the law and order situation and nobody would be allowed to conceive himself above the law.
He further said that Presidential election is the first phase of democratic procedure which is very important and afterwards free and fair elections would be organized, he added. In response to a question, Federal Minister said that President General Pervez Musharraf has proved that all issues in the politics must be resolved through patience and tolerance.
The political destination of the country would be decided by the public, he added. Similarly, he said that the process of dialogue with political parties would continue if it yields fruitful results or ends in a deadlock. Minister for Information and Broadcasting Muhammad Ali Durrani Sunday dispelled the impression that PML had derailed the government-PPP dialogue process, adding that the past governing pattern of confrontation and corruption would not be allowed to be practiced in the country against the interest of people and the state.
“Neither the PML nor Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain has disrupted the dialogue process between the government and the PPP. Rather the ‘unrealistic demands’ put forward by the PPP, which have derailed the ongoing dialogue,” said the Minister at a press conference at a local hotel. PIO Rashid Chaudhry was also present on the occasion. When asked what would be the strategy of the government if PML-N leader Mian Nawaz Sharif returns back on September 10, the Minister said the government would deal with the situation as per laws of the land.
“Whether it be Benazir Bhutto or Mian Nawaz Sharif, no one should consider himself or herself above the law. Any situation would be dealt with as per the laws of land,” he said in a candid mood, adding that Mian Nawaz Sharif is facing multiple pressures regarding his return.
“You know, he is in a fix now. On one hand, he has made an agreement with a friendly country, which would now be piling up pressure on him for avoiding any breach of the understanding, on the other hand, he would have to face his followers in Pakistan.”
Elaborating the reservations of the PML and its allied parties over the demands of PPP for the talks, the Minister said that the demand of dissolving local body governments was against the interest of the people, as the local governments have empowered the people at grass roots level.
“The dialogue process does not mean that the government would allow specific personal gains by a group or individual.