LAHORE – President Asif Ali Zardari here on Sunday got a briefing about the reply of the Swiss authorities (in connection with the graft cases registered against him), and the possibility of delay in the next polls and the developments over the proposal of election commission’s reconstitution.
In a meeting, Federal Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs Farooq H Naek told the president that the international community acknowledged his immunity being the president of Pakistan and that he could not be prosecuted while in the Office.
In another important meeting at the Bilawal House, Interior Minister Rehman Malik apprised President Zardari with the overall law and order situation in the country with a particular reference to the government’s readiness to hold the polls on time.
Meanwhile, PPP chairperson Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has summoned the party’s Punjab leadership at the Bilawal House today (Monday) to get a briefing about their preparation and readiness to contest the next polls.
The party chief will also get a detailed briefing about the angry party leaders in the province, besides listening to the reservations and issues of divisional level leaders, which would meet him at the last leg.
Bilawal is expected to continue party meetings in the largest and politically vital province till February 15.
Moreover, PPP Lahore President Samina Khalid Ghurki organised a luncheon in the honour of the president and the party chairperson at her residence.
PPP Punjab President Manzoor Wattoo, Samina Khalid Ghurki and other senior leaders welcomed the guests.
Samina Ghurki gave them a briefing about the party’s position in Punjab. The possibilities of launching new faces from the provincial capital, Lahore, in the next elections also came under discussion.
Earlier, talking to the media, Manzoor Wattoo claimed that the Swiss cases had been over a long time ago and President’s immunity put the last nail in the coffin of the Swiss cases issue.
APP from Islamabad adds: Federal Law Minister Farooq H Naek on Sunday said that Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) government is sincere about the creation of new province in Punjab and it has introduced a bill in the Senate on this issue last Friday.
Talking to German Ambassador Dr Cyrill Nunn who called on him and discussed issues of mutual interest, said a press release issued here.
The minister informed the ambassador that the incumbent parliament has passed many progressive laws and the fair trial act is one of them.
This act will help bring people involved in terrorist activities to justice, while on the other hand it has also checks and balances to thwart its misuse against ordinary citizens.
On the issue of Election Commission, Farooq H Naek reiterated his stance that it has been appointed constitutionally and now it can only be removed through mechanism laid down in the Constitution of Pakistan.
The minister also informed the ambassador that the coalition government wants elections to be held on time as per law and constitution.
In the end, both the minister and the ambassador committed their resolve to strengthen bilateral relations between the two countries on the basis of cooperation in different fields.