PPPP holds back decision to name PM
By Asim Hussain

ISLAMABAD—The Parliamentary Party of Pakistan People’s Party, which met here Thursday under the chairmanship of Asif Ali Zardari, delayed a decision on premiership candidate subject to convening of the newly elected National Assembly. No briefing was given to the media, but sources said Zardari took the MNAs elect into confidence on political developments and said he would hold further consultations with MNAs from each division separately from Friday.
Meanwhile, according to a PPP press release, addressing the meeting Asif Ali Zardari said the nomination for the office of Prime Minister would be finalized by the time the Assembly session was called. He said that ordinarily, by virtue of his Party office, he would have been the candidate for the office of Prime Minister. But, he had decided not to be PM candidate and instead wished to devote time and energy to strengthen the Party.
Zardari said major issues had been thrashed with the coalition partners and some pending matters would be resolved soon. “Transparency would be cardinal principle of the future PPP government and Parliamentary Committee would be made more powerful and open to public for ensuring both accountability and transparency,” he said. The PPP leader also envisaged allowing telecasting the proceedings of the House Committees.
“Remember that any undemocratic attitude would weaken me and the Party,” he said and asked that elected representatives must be responsive to the people. “I wish to make it clear that no one will be allowed to barter away to undemocratic elements the sacrifices the Party had made for the cause,” he remarked.
Dilating upon the principles of policy of the Party’s government, he said transparency, exposition of truth with a view to achieve reconciliation and provincial autonomy are the tripods on which the edifice of future governance should rest. In this connection, he said, the Party had already tendered apology to the people of Balochistan and said PPP was considering a proposal to make the local people shareholders in the natural resources that are found in particular area.
The PPP Co-chairman said issues of restoration of judges and war on terror needed to be handled with prudence, imagination and courage. Zardari said PPP’s Kashmir policy was clear and there was no conflict between the two countries of India and Pakistan seeking to improve trade and people to people contacts and at the same time holding on to their respective positions on Kashmir.
“Differences on Kashmir should not prevent India and Pakistan from benefiting from increasing trade and other bilateral cooperative relationships,” he added. Meanwhile, PPP Central Information Secretary Sherry Rehman, in remarks made to reporters while leaving after the meeting, said that the process of consultations was underway and the outcome would be made public at an appropriate time.
Nabeel Gabol, MNA-elect and former deputy speaker of Sindh assembly, said that the party was “anxiously” awaiting the inaugural National Assembly session. He said that the assembly should be convened as early as possible. “We have been asked by our leadership to stay in Islamabad. The decision about PM may be announced any time,” Gabol said, adding that the party co-chairman would himself announce whatever decision is made.
Four names mentioned in media and political circles in connection with the race for the prime ministerial office are Makhdoom Amin Fahim, Ahmad Mukhtar, Yousaf Raza Gilani and Shah Mehmood Qureshi. Ahmad Mukhtar, who attended the meeting, also talked to the media briefly and said that the parliamentary party had discussed a number of important issues facing the country.
“We still have a lot of time to ponder over premiership”, said Mukhtar, a former commerce minister. He said the party was not indulging in any delaying tactics over nomination of a prime ministerial candidate. “Even Nawaz Sharif has not so far announced name of a candidate for the office of CM in Punjab despite enjoying majority to form a government in the province,” Mukhtar said. Besides the MNAs elect, the meeting was also attended by opposition leader in the Senate Raza Rabbani and Secretary General of the Party Jehangir Bader also attended themeeting.